Robert Peel and the police

In the 18th century, law enforcement still relied on parish constables and watchmen, who patrolled at night. They were unpaid or poorly paid, and often old.

Victims could also pay thief-takers to catch criminals and return stolen goods. Some thief-takers were criminals themselves.

Cause of change: London grew enormously. In a huge city full of strangers, the old system of neighbours watching each other no longer worked.

Henry Fielding, a novelist, became a magistrate at Bow Street in London. In 1749 he set up the Bow Street Runners: a small group of paid men who caught criminals, investigated crimes and served warrants. They were the first professional, paid law-enforcers in London.

His half-brother, John Fielding, took over after Henry's death. He set up a mounted patrol on the roads around London, and published details of crimes and wanted criminals so that others could look out for them.

Significance: the Fieldings showed that a paid, organised force could reduce crime, but the Runners were small, and covered only London.

Robert Peel, the Home Secretary, persuaded Parliament to pass the Metropolitan Police Act in 1829.

Whereas offences against property have of late increased in and near the metropolis; and the local establishments of nightly watch and nightly police have been found inadequate to the prevention and detection of crime, by reason of the frequent unfitness of the individuals employed, the insufficiency of their number, the limited sphere of their authority, and their want of connection and co-operation with each other:

('The metropolis' means London; 'inadequate' means 'not good enough'.)

The new force began patrolling in September 1829, with about 1,000 officers, and grew quickly. Constables walked set routes, called beats. Its main aim was to prevent crime.

Opposition: many people feared a police force would be used by the government to spy on them and crush protest, like the police in France. Others objected to paying for it. The police were mocked as 'Peelers' and 'Bobbies'. Many early recruits were sacked, often for drunkenness.

How it was overcome:

• Not like an army: police wore blue uniforms, not soldiers' red, and carried only a wooden truncheon.
• Prevention, not force: they patrolled on foot and were told to be polite and calm.
• Strict standards: recruits had to be fit and of good character.

Over time, as crime in London seemed to fall, the police were gradually accepted.

Change:

Significance: by 1900, Britain had moved from law enforcement by the community to professional, paid police forces in every area.