In the early years of the century, the preservation of order in Shanghai became a bigger problem as the population increased, and as criminal gangs began to make it their headquarters. The Chinese themselves were alive to the evils to which they were exposed, especially that of kidnapping, and a number of merchants formed an Anti-Kidnapping Society in 1912 with the object of stamping out kidnapping and trafficking in children of both sexes.Armed robberies became frequent, many of the robbers being disbanded soldiers. The duties of the police became more dangerous and they carried on their duties with considerable risk to life. The first instance in this connection of a foreign constable being killed was on October 23rd, 1917, when Sergeant Hamilton was shot on Yates Road while engaged in searching men suspected of carrying concealed weapons.
unless otherwise indicated