People thought the police would be busy-bodies and would pry into people’s business. This had been seen in other European countries. People thought the Government would use the police force to force people to do what they wanted. In hindsight, it now seems many people were opposed to the idea of a state-run police force as they believed it would threaten freedom. Events such as the Peterloo Massacre in 1819showed the weaknesses of relying on the army to deal with public protests. The growth of popular protest convinced many that a professional police force was required. People were increasingly aware that most of the existing methods of catching criminals (JPs, Constables and Charlies) were not effective, particularly in the light of the massive industrial, agricultural and population changes at the time. Peel argued that because the crime rate was rising, especially in the industrial towns and in London, a change in policing was needed. But the idea was still very controversial. However, the significant turning point came when Sir Robert Peel, Home Secretary, supported the idea of the Government taking responsibility for organising policing. Glasgow, in 1800, adopted a scheme organising Constables and Watchmen into a force to protect the city. Their work was based on the idea that police should be responsible for preventing crimes rather than reacting to crimes.īy the start of the 19th century, there was increasing support for the concept of a professional, state-funded, full time police force. The Fieldings pioneered the idea of organised policing. By 1800, there were 68 Bow Street Runners in London. At first these men were paid from a government grant, but they also got rewards from catching suspects in the same was as Thief Takers. This began with six men, who were trained, paid and were full-time officers. Henry Fielding set up a force of paid constables who patrolled London, called the Bow Street Runners. This was a similar approach, albeit using a different method, to earlier approaches which involved the community. He believed in using the public and placed adverts in newspapers asking people to help him. Henry's motto was Quick notice and sudden pursuit. His report stated that London's crime rate was due to people expecting an easy life and resorting to crime rather than work, corruption in the Government and the ineffective policing systems. He wrote a report called An Enquiry into the Causes of the Late Increase of Robbers and Related Writings about the rise in crime, which was published in 1751. Henry Fielding became chief magistrate at Bow Street Court in 1748. Half-brothers Henry and John Fielding were Magistrates at Bow Street in London. Some pioneers began developing the concept of an organised, paid police force in London. However, he and his men were actually behind most of the theft in the area. He appeared to voluntarily police the streets of London, handing over criminals to the authorities and negotiating the return of the goods for profit. Huitchen’s accomplice, Jonathan Wild, was later nicknamed the ‘Thief Taker General of Great Britain and Ireland’. Unofficial policemen, or so-called Thief Takers, such as Charles Huitchen, began to make profits by capturing criminals or negotiating the return of stolen goods to owners and claiming rewards. Increase in population and the growth of towns meant it was difficult for unpaid amateurs to maintain law and order. Watchmen were usually ineffective and Constables often resented the requirements of their job. The crime rate was rising, and new crimes were developing. By the 18th century it was becoming increasingly clear that the existing system of policing was not effective.
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