[Kevin Reardon]

I have just been surfing the net and found a reference to the British Transport Police tracing their history back to 1825. I then checked the history of the Metropolitan Police and found it's routes started in 1829. I have been lead to believe that the 'MET' was the first police force in the world but I now find it was the second. Has there been a mistake or is the BTP the oldest Police force in the world.
I have send an e mail to New Scotland Yard asking them to clear up the above and am still waiting reply.

[JS]

I think the Met traces its history back to the Bow Street runners and River Police who pre-date the full establishment of the Met in 1829, in fact I think the Bow Street runners were around in the 1700's but I'll have to check.

I think it may be a matter of how you phrase the question, just like Heathrow airport is the Worlds busiest International airport but many US airports are much busier if you include their domestic traffic .....

James

[mat5726]

its mine understanding that the Special Constabulary predates the "bow street runners" by some 150 yrs, back when a person was volenteered to be the village constable, refusal meant Six Months imprisonment

[JS]

mat5726, on Apr 1 2004, 09:50 AM, said:

its mine understanding that the Special Constabulary predates the "bow street runners" by some 150 yrs, back when a person was volenteered to be the village constable, refusal meant Six Months imprisonment

Indeed, the Special Constabulary is the earliest form of organised policing in the UK. I think the reason the Met traces itself back to the Bow Street runners and River Police is because these were the first paid Police and after the Met was set up in 1829 these officers were eventually subsumed into the new force.

James

[broxi_blu]

i found this if this is any use



The History of the Police
It was not until 1750 that the first paid police force was formed by Henry Fielding who was a magistrate and a famous writer. Although these police officers did not have a uniform, they were paid to break up criminal gangs. In 1829 Sir Robert Peel, the Home Secretary, passed laws which led to a new police force being set up in London with 3,000 officers. They covered a seven mile radius from central London. By 1856, a network of over 200 police forces had been set up throughout England and Wales. People had seen that the London police force was a good idea and set up their own forces instead of relying on the army to prevent crime. In 1964 the number of police forces in England and Wales was changed so that, today, 43 police forces cover the same areas that used to need 122.

WOMEN IN THE POLICE FORCE

Until 1914 there were no women in the police. The first female officers were volunteers who took the place of male officers who were away fighting in the First World War. In 1944 in Kent, Barbara Mary Dennis de Vitre set up a branch of women police officers. She had originally worked with the Cairo City Police in Egypt before joining Sheffield City Police in 1928. In 1995 Pauline Clare of Lancashire Constabulary became the first woman Chief Constable.

UNIFORM

At first, people didn't like the idea of the new London police officers wearing a uniform so they were made to look as if they weren't really uniforms. They wore a dark blue knee- length coat with a stand-up collar which had the officer's number on it. This is still called the collar number, but is now worn on the shoulder. A wide leather belt and a tall hat with a thick leather top completed the outfit. Police uniform has changed over the years, with helmets and tunics replacing the hat and coat in 1864. Collars that fastened around the neck were replaced by a shirt collar and tie in 1948.

PAY

Until 1908, police officers worked seven days a week with no lunch breaks, but they could carry food and drink with them in a special blue bag. During the First World War wages for most jobs were doubled, but police wages stayed about the same as those of an unskilled labourer. In 1918, although they were not allowed to join a union, some police officers went on strike. Tanks had to be used on the streets of Liverpool to keep order and 2,000 officers were sacked for going on strike. In 1919, the Government passed the Police Act and the Police Federation was set up to give police a say in what they get paid. Today, a trained police constable (click) earns approximately between £18,000 and £24,000 a year, depending on how many years experience he or she has. and sergeants earn up to about œ27,500.

[Biscuit]

I was always under the impression that Strathclyde Police, formerly the City of Glasgow Police was the oldest police force in Britain, founded in 1779.

http://gphs1800.tripod.com/

[broxi_blu]

The beginnings of what is now known the Special Constabulary started with an act passed by King Charles II in 1673 which extended common law in order to summon any man to the role of temporary peace officer in times of unrest. Any citizen who refused to carry out this role could be heavily fined or even jailed.

In 1819, 300 Specials were used to help manage enormous demonstrations in Manchester during the industrial revolution, demonstrations which resulted in riots leaving several dead and many more injured. Following this, in 1820, the government passed an act confirming the magistrates' power to summon men to the role of Special Constable.

1831 saw the introduction of the first Special Constables act, allowing local authorities to recruit Special Constables to supplement the shortage of regular officers who were unable to keep law and order on their own. Along with this, Specials were given the full powers of a regular police officers and equipment needed for protection whilst exercising their duties.

Another Act in 1834 saw the Special Constabulary becoming more like the Constabulary it is today. The act contained two major parts - the first allowed Specials to act outside of their parishes and townships, whilst the second - and most important - introduced the idea of the voluntary Special Constable.

The professional body of the Special Constabulary that exists today had much to do with the changes that came about at the start of World War One. It became voluntary, part time and expenses only were paid to its volunteers.

As strange as it may seem, the specials main role during the years of the war was guarding the nations water supply in case of enemy sabotage. At the outbreak of war 24,000 Specials were sworn in, and by the end of the first year that number had risen to 31,000. At the end of the year 1917, over 2,300 Metropolitan Police Officers alone were serving in the armed forces, therefore Specials had a crucial part to play in the policing of the nation during these troubled times.

Since then Specials have played a much more important role in the police force, including support during the general strike of 1924 and during the Second World War 1939 - 1945.


Special Constable Glen Goodman

Today Specials play a more active role in front line policing. This fact was brought home by the murder of Special Constable Glen Goodman from North Yorkshire Police in 1992. Glen was a likeable 37 year old with ambitions to join the regular force. He had only been a Special for a few months when whilst on patrol with a regular officer when the 2 did a routine stop check on the A64 near Tadcaster. The vehicle stopped contained two IRA terrorists. The 2 men shot the 2 police officers, several times. The regular was badly injured and spent many weeks in hospital, eventually retiring from the force due to the incident. Glen died in hospital later that evening.

Fortunately this is an extreme case, however it does bring home the realities of danger associated with being a police officer.

[Kevin Reardon]

Reply from New Scotland Yard;

Dear Mr. Reardon

Thank you for your email. The term policeman was used by the railway companies because they "policed" the lines i.e. the man walking in front of the train with a red flag, the signalmen etc. The first civil police force was created by Sir Robert Peel as a result of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829 being accepted by parliament. Hence the Met. being the first organised police force.

[JS]

Kevin Reardon, on Apr 1 2004, 11:30 AM, said:

Reply from New Scotland Yard;

Dear Mr. Reardon

Thank you for your email. The term policeman was used by the railway companies because they "policed" the lines i.e. the man walking in front of the train with a red flag, the signalmen etc. The first civil police force was created by Sir Robert Peel as a result of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829 being accepted by parliament. Hence the Met. being the first organised police force.

That told you !

James

[jacko_999]

I'm afraid that you are all wrong!

Sir Robert Peel actually formed the world's first full-time professional police force in Ireland (the country of his birth, as it happens).

The Constabulary of Ireland Act of 1822 established the Irish Constabulary (later to become the Royal Irish Constabulary, then the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and now the PSNI).

Sir Robert Peel then used this model and experience when he established the Metropolitan Police in 1829.

[Gubmentcheez]

I think it depends on perspective, the first organised police service in the world, will be recognised as such, despite the history of "policing" in its broadest sesne, which predates much further back. 'Policing' in differing forms, can exist without an organised police constabulary.

The Metropolitan Police Service is probably the most well known organisation founded by Robert Peel, much more known then say the British Transport Police or the Irish Constabularly. Therefore the Met is recognised globally as being the first organised police service.

[Big Yin]

:grin: Anyone else bamboozled with information overload?

[Blueboy]

Robert Peel was an Englishman. He was born in Bury , G. Manchester. He was the Chief secretary for Ireland. He was responsible for forming the Royal Irish Constabulary. It was a colonial police force and was a role model for other colonial forces around the world.

Mark

[Teleologica]

mark1720, on Apr 1 2004, 05:08 PM, said:

Robert Peel was an Englishman. He was born in Bury , G. Manchester. He was the Chief secretary for Ireland. He was responsible for forming the Royal Irish Constabulary. It was a colonial police force and was a role model for other colonial forces around the world.

Mark

He was also the Prime Minister at the start of the Irish Potato Blight i think, and the M'Naughten Rules regarding criminal insanity were developed after an attempted attack on him.

This post has been edited by ndw78: 01 April 2004 - 05:25 PM

[broxi_blu]

Peel's pioneering ideas regarding the establishment of a uniformed, civil police force were refined against this background, in response to the prevailing lawlessness. As a result of initial opposition in parliament the plan Peel developed for a police force in Ireland first found expression in a diluted form in the Peace Preservation Act of 1814, which empowered the Lord Lieutenant to send a chief magistrate and a specially appointed body of armed men to any part of the country 'proclaimed' to be in a state of disturbance. Officially titled 'The Peace Preservation Force', it was partly composed of soldiers returning from the Napoleonic Wars. They often wore, as a consequence, a variety of military uniforms. Although Peel left Ireland in 1818, he reintroduced his plans for the comprehensive policing of the whole island when he became Home Secretary in 1822. On 5th August 1822 the Constabulary Act was passed and a new force called the Constabulary Police was formed. This Act for the first time allowed for the systematic establishment of an organised police force on a national basis. (Therefore, whilst Peel is principally remembered for his role in the founding of the London Metropolitan Police in 1829, credit with being the first organized police force in the British Isles nevertheless remains with the constabulary in Ireland.)

[DKNwhy]

Here is a bit of history of the development of policing from a website I tend to use for my uni essays..

The early development of policing

Mediaeval policing was very different to the function that we understand today as "policing". In fact the idea of policing did not really develop until the eighteenth century. What existed before then was a form of governance through self-regulation that was based upon local community units. It was a system that was not as alluring in practice as current interpretations might suggest. The study of this period of police history raises a number of important issues.

First, is the 'historical sentimentality' which many historical commentators adopt when examining police history. The reality of life in mediaeval times (and afterwards) was that it was actually pretty violent and life was cheap. There was much summary justice.

Second, we tend towards a natural revisionism in so far as we use our personal and modern ideas about policing to interpret the past - which is wrong. There were no Bobbies then; the British Bobby was a nineteenth century political construct.

Third, the study of policing is a male study of policing, all police functions were traditionally carried out by men, and women have only recently been allowed to be involved in policing during the past century, albeit on male terms.

One of the main objectives of this session is to debunk some of the historical sentimentality that surrounds the history of the police.

(i) Early concepts - Frankpledge, 'Hue and Cry' - The basic unit of local government was a tything - a group of families, each member of which had a personal responsibility for maintaining law - If they came across a law being broken they would make 'hue and cry' and they along with other members of the community would chase and capture the felon.

(ii) Organisation - Tythingman/ Constable - There was no organisation as we know it ! - There were hardly any laws by comparison to today, mainly local moral codes. In each tything a person was made responsible for taking felons to the hundred court. A hundred was a group of tythings. The Tythingman/ Constable wasn't paid a salary - they got fees for the work that they did such as taking felons before a court. There did not exist the same notion of policing as there is today. The decision to arrest and take before the court was basically a community decision.

(iii) Law - The Assize of Clarendon 1166 celebrated the anniversary of the Norman Conquest - all villagers had to report any suspicions about each other to the sheriffs people.

The Statute of Winchester 1285 enshrined the principles of Frankpledge and described as its object 'to abate the power of felons'. It also introduced the idea and practice of appointing town watchmen to supplement (watch and ward) the duties of the constable, who was referred to as the 'Conservator of the Peace'.

The Justices of the Peace Act 1361 created Justices to preside over the courts. It marked the transition from pure Frankpledge to a fundamental policing system by establishing the working partnership (at least in principle) of constable and Justice.

Post-Tudor developments

(i) Developments in the office of constable - The Anglo-Saxon constable (tythingman) was appointed to maintain the King's peace. The tythingman became known as constable and as more laws were passed to protect property and the person, then the Office of Constable became more established (they swore an oath to the crown).

(ii) The office of Constable (had diverse functions) - Firstly, constables were responsible for maintaining the King's peace. Secondly, they (passively) enforced the King's law. There was to be no concept of criminal investigation for many hundreds of years. Constables would take apprehended felons before a local court and receive payment for doing so. They also had other functions delegated to them by the High Constable, for example to inspect bridges and roads etc. The High Constable, was not, as you may think, a senior officer, it was a different office which presided over the Hundred and the Hundred court. It would be very wrong to think of these officers as police officers.

(iii) Cromwell's 'New Model Army' - For two years between 1655 and 1657 there was a brief period when Cromwell introduced a system of military policing . This system was more directed to the suppression of frivolity than the ends of civil policing. A sort of anti- 'Fun Police'.

(iv) The Charlie - King Charles II enabled local towns and cities to employ watchmen to 'watch' the cities during the night. These watchmen were called "Charlies".

The Metropolitan Police Act 1829
In 1828 a Select Committee considered the possibility of introducing a full time police force and accepted the idea. Within 20 months the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 was passed and the first police officers stepped onto the streets.

Conclusion

By the 18th century the arrangements for policing, which had existed since mediaeval times, were felt to be inadequate methods of dealing with the social and economic pressures that industrialisation had created.

Demands for police reform after various public disorders failed yet the Metropolitan Police Act was passed during a time of public tranquillity.

The Metropolitan Police Act was part of a series of legislation resulting from the efficient Parliamentary management and political entrepreneurship of the Home Secretary, Sir Robert Peel.

Through the reform of the criminal law Peel had been responsible for reducing the number of capital offences from 221 to 10. This action, plus the fact that Peel excluded the City of London (a separate administrative area) from the Metropolitan Police Area (The City being the greatest opposition yet, ironically introduced its own police in 1839 via the City of London Police Act 1839) led to the introduction of a full time police force to ensure that the new criminal laws were impartially and effectively enforced.

Source: Leeds University

[jock]

Glasgow city police was the oldest police force created in 1800. To start with the officers weren't called constables they were called 'watchmen' and for the first two years until 1802 part of their duties were to sweep the streets.(Yes, thats right with a big brush) They didn't patrol alone or in twos they patrolled in large groups led by a lieutenant.

[Blueboy]

An overload of information!!! It feels like a history lesson.

[Kevin Reardon]

If you were on 'Who wants to be a Millionaire', which Police Force would you say was the Oldest?

[Blueboy]

call a friend? 50/50?

[Teleologica]

mark1720, on Apr 1 2004, 07:27 PM, said:

An overload of information!!! It feels like a history lesson.

Nah they don't learn history in Schools like this anymore. If this was a history lesson, we'd be asked to discuss the societal factors which led to the formation of the first police service (and it would probably say service instead of force).