| My family tree has been traced back to the early | | | | minister. |
| Kings of England from the 7th. Century AD. This | | | | In Britain in 1812, 1818 and 1822 a number of |
| gives me an interest in English History which is great | | | | committees had examined the policing of London. |
| fun to research. As I am a direct descendent of Sir | | | | Based on their findings the home secretary Robert |
| Christopher Wren and have many ancestors from | | | | Peel passed the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829, |
| London who were also members of various London | | | | introducing a more rigorous and less discretionary |
| Police Forces, I thought it may be of interest to | | | | approach to law enforcement. The new Metropolitan |
| write an article about British Policing's history. | | | | Police Service, founded on September 29th was |
| | | | | depersonalized, bureaucratic and hierarchical with the |
| I also have some funny Victorian British Bobbies on | | | | new police constables (US = patrol officers) |
| art prints please click here. | | | | instructed to prevent crime and pursue offenders. |
| | | | | However in contrast to the more paramilitary police |
| Policing in its present form has existed for about 150 | | | | of continental Europe the British police, partly to |
| years. The earliest form of policing in Britain predates | | | | counter public fears and objections concerning armed |
| the Norman Conquest. The Saxon frankpledge was a | | | | enforcers, were initially clearly civilian and their |
| private, social obligation in which all adult males were | | | | armament was limited to the truncheon, a fear of |
| responsible for the good behaviour of others. The | | | | spy systems and political control also kept 'plain |
| people were expected to live peaceably and lawfully, | | | | clothes' and even detective work to a minimum. The |
| keeping the King's peace. | | | | force was independent of the local government, |
| This was more formally arranged with men between | | | | through its commissioner it was responsible direct to |
| the ages of 12 and 60 organised into groups of 10 | | | | the Home Office. The new constables were |
| family units called tithings (also spelled tythings). | | | | nicknamed 'peelers' or 'bobbies' after the then home |
| These were headed by a tythingman. Each tything | | | | secretary, Sir Robert Peel. |
| was grouped into 100, which in turn was headed by a | | | | Even within the Metropolitan Police districts created |
| hundredman. He acted as an administrator and judge. | | | | from 1829, there remained a number of police |
| The hundredman reported to the King's deputy, the | | | | establishments outside the control of the Metropolitan |
| local shire reeve whose responsibility was it to keep | | | | Police. These were the Bow Street patrols; both |
| order in the county. | | | | mounted and on foot, latterly named the Bow Street |
| In 1750 Henry Fielding, novelist and Chief Justice of | | | | Runners. Police constables attached to these offices |
| Westminster, set up the Bow Street Runners, their | | | | were under the control of the magistrates. By 1839, |
| numbers started with just six police officers, by the | | | | with the exception of the Marine or River police and |
| end of the 18th century their numbers had risen to | | | | transport Police, all of these establishments were |
| approximately seventy. | | | | absorbed by the Metropolitan Police force. The City |
| Debate continued during the early part of the 19th | | | | of London Police Force was set up in 1839 and to |
| century as to the importance of a police force in | | | | this day remains independent. |
| England. The Home Secretary of the time, Robert | | | | The first Detective Force was created by the |
| Peel, later Sir Robert Peel, sponsored the first | | | | Metropolitan Police Force in 1842 and eventually |
| successful bill for a salaried civilian police force. The | | | | became the famous Scotland Yard. |
| Metropolitan Police Act 1829 was limited to the | | | | Outside of the metropolitan area the Municipal |
| London area; however it excluded the City of London | | | | Corporations Act of 1835 and further legislation in |
| and provinces. | | | | 1839 and 1840 allowed counties to create their own |
| Policemen were to be easily recognised and dressed | | | | constabulary. The first county force created was |
| in uniform. Patrols would prevent crime and disorder. | | | | Wiltshire in 1839. Around thirty counties had done so |
| As the police were to be salaried, stipend or rewards | | | | before the County and Borough Police Act of 1856 |
| were not permitted for the resolution of crime or the | | | | made such forces mandatory and subject to central |
| return of stolen property. Along with their regular | | | | inspection. There were over 200 separate forces in |
| duties, the new police force would continue some of | | | | England and Wales by 1860. |
| the duties of the watchmen such as lighting lamps, | | | | Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ |
| calling time and fire detection. | | | | My other website is called Directory of British Icons: |
| As Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel main | | | | |
| achievement was the reforming of the London Police | | | | The Chinese call England "The Island of Hero's" which |
| force, the forerunners of the modern day British | | | | I think sums up what we English are all about. |
| Police services. The nickname of the police officers | | | | |
| were nicknamed "Peeler's" and named after the prime | | | | Copyright © 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved. |