Sanders was noted as a strong supporter of the needs of rank and file officers, and as well as being properly outfitted and paid, he encouraged those under his command to be philanthropists, Samaritans and "good sports."
[4] Sanders joined the London Metropolitan Police in 1894, eventually serving with Special Branch at Scotland Yard and reaching the rank of Divisional Detective Inspector.
Janotha was considered a dangerous "enemy alien" who was suspected to be collaborating with a member of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's staff in order to receive information on the bestowing of titles.
During the investigation Sanders also arrested Baron von Elssen, brother of the German Governor of Brussels (whom had ordered the execution of a nurse) and Bertha Trost, who was suspected of sending information to Germany long before the outbreak of the First World War.
Sanders prosecuted a large number of persons concerned with the Mile End, Poplar, West Ham and Stepney Guardians, in a case lasting well over three years, and also investigated the theft of the Irish Crown Jewels, which had disappeared in 1908.
In his role as Divisional Detective Inspector of Special Branch, Sanders for a short time served alongside the French authorities in Dieppe, before returning to London to lead 'F' Division in the Criminal Investigations Department.
He strongly opposed any reduction in police pay and generously awarded both officers and public alike whenever acts of bravery and exceptionally good work were observed, often with uniquely engraved finery.
[9] He was a self-proclaimed philanthropist, and showed great interest in improving the lives of the poor and distressed, something Plymouth had a large problem with due to the frequent arrival of underprivileged persons at the Devonport Dockyard.
He set up a depot at the dockyard where the poor were encouraged to send their tattered clothing for cleaning and repair, which would be done personally by Mrs Sanders and a small number of friends.
In a number of speeches by the Mayor of Plymouth, H.M. Dockyards' Rear-Admiral Underhill and Chief Constable Sanders, a great comradeship was observed between the two forces.
Sanders and his colleagues in the Police Watch Committee had observed that Plymouth lacked adequate buildings to train a large number of officers at once, something the city of Birmingham was not in short supply of.