Police (Bobbies)
Police (Metropolitan Police Force).
ALTERNATIVE NAME: Bobbies (after Sir Robert Peel, founder).
LANGUAGE: English.
TIME: 1829.
LOCATION: London, England.
CATEGORY: Social Sciences
DISCIPLINE: Law
ASSOCIATION: Law and Order.
SHORT DESCRIPTION: A force of professional law and order officers accountable to Parliament through the Home Office.
DESCRIPTION:
Before the establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force, there were no professional police in Britain. The maintenance of law and order was carried out by parish constables in the country, and by watchmen in the towns.
Attempts were made to improve the situation. In the eighteenth century , for example, <anticipated by> Henry Fielding*, novelist and magistrate, formed the Bow Street Runners, who were thief catchers. Private initiative funded some protection, such as the River Police, set up in 1798 and paid for by the West India merchants who were bringing valuable goods into the docks.
During the nineteenth century, particularly as industrialization increased the size of many towns and cities, the problem of law and order became acute. It was particularly so in London where the population had increased hugely and slums had developed as housing was destroyed to make way for new industrial premises.
In the second half of the eighteenth century, as the Industrial Revolution boosted national wealth, those benefiting from the profits began to demand more protection for themselves and their splendid new properties in Belgravia, Chelsea and Mayfair.
There was also the fear of revolution and public riots. Talk of parliamentary reform in Britain reminded the ruling class of events in France in 1789, and of the riots in London in 1780, when an anti-Catholic mob had burned houses, and the arm had been used to put down the disturbances.
The first professional police force came in London, established in 1822 by <founded by> Peel*, Home Secretary responsible for Law and Order, and named the Metropolitan Police Force. Peel’s innovative idea was to create a preventative force, patrolling the streets in uniform. On the basis that a policeman familiar with the area would patrol more efficiently, it was decided to introduce the 'beat' system.
Policemen were organized into Divisions. The Superintendents and Inspectors of these Divisions were usually ex-army, non-commissioned officers. The uniform in 1829 was uncomfortably heavy and very hot in warm weather. It consisted of a blue swallow-tail coat, an 18-oz. high top hat made of rabbit skin and covered with leather for protection, a pair of thick leather boots and a leather belt. In 1865, a helmet and tunic were introduced. Policemen were also given a cape, a truncheon made of hardwood, a lantern, and a rattle (later in the century a whistle was substituted for the rattle).
The men were expected to cover twenty miles every night of the week in all weathers. There was no break allowed during a beat, and no hot food. Many policemen died of tuberculosis. Discipline was severe. Men were dismissed after any complaint by a member of the public or if they kept bad company. The main cause of dismissal was drunkenness. The police were not allowed to form a trade union and policemen were not allowed to vote in parliamentary elections until 1887.
In 1837, mounted police were added to the force and in 1839, the river police were incorporated into the Metropolitan Police as Thames Division.
In 1840, the Divisions were ordered to choose "active, intelligent men" to tracing stolen property, and to gather intelligence about the criminal community. These men wore no uniform and were known as Divisional Detectives. In 1842, a separate Detective branch for the whole of London was formed and situated in small square called Great Scotland Yard, said to be where Scottish ambassadors to London had lodged several hundred years before.
In 1878, the detective branch was re-organized and became the Criminal Investigation Department. In 1889, photography was used to identify criminals and in 1901 <work enhanced by> Sir Edward Henry* set up a fingerprint library for the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard.
EXTRA CONNECTIONS:
Failed to catch Jack the Ripper
ONELINER: Police force, founded by Sir Robert Peel
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Encyclopedia Britannica