Westminster was part of the County of Middlesex but separate from the City of London. In 1585 a Court of Burgesses was established for minor criminal offences. And in 1618 a commission of the peace was established entitling its Justices of the Peace to hold separate sessions.

Westminster Sessions
20 March 1725
Wm Baily - Com P Tho: Gouge Esqr. Mar: ye 20th ... Oath of Jno: Sterry on Suspition of pit... brass weights of small value from ... appearing to be a loose idle Vagrant ... Pson having no visible means of ... himself keep him to hard Labour