While Machi-yoriki and Machi-doshin were the subordinate of machi-bugyo (town magistrate) who were civil officers to maintain the public security of the Edo castle town, Kumi-yoriki and Kumi-doshin were under the control of the sakite-gumi, which was bankata (military officers), and regulated the Edo castle town so roughly that they were said to be feared by the Edo people.
同じく江戸城下の治安を預かる町奉行が役方（文官）であり、その部下である町与力や町同心とは対照的に、御先手組は番方であり、その部下である組与力・組同心の取り締まり方は極めて荒っぽく、江戸の民衆から恐れられたという。