London Labour and the London Poor

Content Warning: This section mentions death by suicide.

The opening section of Volume 4 (which was published about a decade after the first three volumes) discusses the various agencies in London that address crime and promote moral and spiritual well-being. The four categories that Mayhew identifies were the curative agencies, the preventative agencies, the repressive and punitive agencies, and the reformative agencies.

A curative agency was one that emphasized religion as the best influence in preventing and addressing crime. Mayhew highlights the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge for their contributions to spreading religious influence through the distribution of biblical Scriptures. The London City Mission and the Church of England Scripture Readers’ Society evangelized through personal visits and readings, while the Religious Tract Society disseminated moral and religious literature. The text commends efforts such as open-air services, theater services, and the use of Scripture readers for reaching marginalized populations and promoting social and spiritual change.

Preventative agencies sought to address the root causes of crime and moral degradation by focusing on social, economic, and educational factors. They include temperance associations and the United Kingdom Alliance, which focused on combatting drunkenness, seeking legislative suppression of the liquor trade, and advocating for eradicating alcohol commerce.