中国租界是根据不平等条约，由外国政权在中国的领土上建立的一种城市自治区域。中国租界产生后，为实现其行政自治权与领事裁判权，租界内设有自己的近代警政机关——巡捕房，其警政人员为巡捕。作为与百姓生活最为接近的公权力的代表，巡捕的言行备受关注。1921—1937年间，上海地区的报刊中关于巡捕的记载内容丰富，鲜明地反映了巡捕的民间形象：他们是履行职责的公务人员，是滥用权力的施暴者，是外国侵略势力的代表，但也体现了他们作为时代洪流中的普通人的复杂性。总的来说，关于巡捕的记载不乏有认可之内容，但更多的是厌恶与抵触。

Concessions in China were self‑governing urban enclaves established by foreign powers on Chinese territory under unequal treaties. Following their founding, the concessions set up their own modern police institution—the police station (the Xunbufang, or Shanghai Municipal Police)—to exercise administrative autonomy and consular jurisdiction, whose officers were known as xunbu (constables). As representatives of public power who came into closest contact with ordinary people, these constables drew considerable public attention. From 1921 to 1937, Shanghai‑based newspapers and periodicals contain abundant records concerning the constables, which vividly reflect their popular image: they were duty‑bound public servants, power‑abusing perpetrators, and agents of foreign aggression, while also revealing their complexity as ordinary individuals caught up in the tides of the era. Overall, although some records express recognition of the constables, aversion and resistance predominate.