An Introduction An Introduction to the Police to the Police

Service Part OneService Part One

The Idea of Policing: Some The Idea of Policing: Some Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider

What does the word ‘police’ mean to you?What does the word ‘police’ mean to you? How did our society arrive at the current How did our society arrive at the current

system of policing?system of policing? What is the difference between ‘the police’ What is the difference between ‘the police’

and ‘policing’and ‘policing’ Can you think of other ways in which criminal Can you think of other ways in which criminal

activity and disputes are investigated or activity and disputes are investigated or resolved other than by resort to calling the resolved other than by resort to calling the police?police?

What themes can you identify in the criticism What themes can you identify in the criticism that is made of modern police and policingthat is made of modern police and policing

Pre-Literate SocietiesPre-Literate Societies

These communities relied on co-These communities relied on co-operation so the need to resolve disputes operation so the need to resolve disputes was great. was great.

Blood Feud.Blood Feud. Typical of older societies Typical of older societies with weak rule of law where family and with weak rule of law where family and kinship are the main source of authority. kinship are the main source of authority.

Where different community ties (blood Where different community ties (blood relations, relations of marriage, gender) relations, relations of marriage, gender) exist the pressure to resolve the conflict exist the pressure to resolve the conflict is high.is high.

Albanian building for Albanian building for protection of men involved protection of men involved in blood feuds which still in blood feuds which still

continue today continue today http://http://

www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Blood_feuds.aspxwww.actnow.com.au/Issues/Blood_feuds.aspx

Anglo-Saxon Laws 600-Anglo-Saxon Laws 600-10661066

Blood feudBlood feud also supplemented by idea of God and custom also supplemented by idea of God and custom inherent in law and obligation to Lord, King and Godinherent in law and obligation to Lord, King and God

EnforcementEnforcement was a matter for the victim was a matter for the victim Following the adoption of Christianity Following the adoption of Christianity written lawswritten laws

required that offenders were delivered to the required that offenders were delivered to the royal courtsroyal courts To settle a feud became an To settle a feud became an obligationobligation to the monarch and to the monarch and

thereby Godthereby God Marked a shift away from blood feud to a more Marked a shift away from blood feud to a more formal formal

system of justicesystem of justice The state gradually controlled The state gradually controlled non-judicial forms of non-judicial forms of

justicejustice as is shown by the rise of professional state-police- as is shown by the rise of professional state-police-like positions (e.g. sarjeants of the hundred and constables like positions (e.g. sarjeants of the hundred and constables of the hundred)of the hundred)

King AlfredKing Alfred

The principle of “common law” is The principle of “common law” is established under Alfredestablished under Alfred

Norman Conquest (1066) Norman Conquest (1066) and Afterand After

Domesday book establishes property and land ownership under the Domesday book establishes property and land ownership under the Norman kingsNorman kings

King obliged to promote spiritual welfare of the people and to oblige King obliged to promote spiritual welfare of the people and to oblige others to maintain peace and arrest offenders (used justice system to others to maintain peace and arrest offenders (used justice system to collect tax, enforce fines and confiscate property)collect tax, enforce fines and confiscate property)

Blood feud principle survives as shown by the right to enforce summary Blood feud principle survives as shown by the right to enforce summary execution of felons caught ‘in the act’ or ‘in flight from the act’execution of felons caught ‘in the act’ or ‘in flight from the act’

System of crown involvement in the law extends as seen in ‘frankpledge’ System of crown involvement in the law extends as seen in ‘frankpledge’ (C13) where members (of a vill or township) were required to pursue (C13) where members (of a vill or township) were required to pursue offenders and ensure good behaviour of others on behalf of the monarchoffenders and ensure good behaviour of others on behalf of the monarch

Tithing (‘tithingman’) was a subdivision of a vill which enforced Tithing (‘tithingman’) was a subdivision of a vill which enforced obligations and pursued offenders or kept them for the Sheriff obligations and pursued offenders or kept them for the Sheriff (responsible for operation of frankpledge) to collect(responsible for operation of frankpledge) to collect

Tithing. ‘Ten householders living near together and bound over as Tithing. ‘Ten householders living near together and bound over as sureties for each other’s peaceable behaviour.’sureties for each other’s peaceable behaviour.’

The ‘Watch’ was the group of men charged with carrying out these The ‘Watch’ was the group of men charged with carrying out these policing activities for no compensation and usually at nightpolicing activities for no compensation and usually at night

The ‘hue and cry’ for the pursuit and capture of a criminal. Failure to The ‘hue and cry’ for the pursuit and capture of a criminal. Failure to raise it and to actively engage in the pursuit were themselves liableraise it and to actively engage in the pursuit were themselves liable

By the end of the C14, “the justice of the By the end of the C14, “the justice of the peace had become a key part of an elaborate peace had become a key part of an elaborate and co-ordinated system which for the first and co-ordinated system which for the first time provided the crown with a permanent time provided the crown with a permanent judicial presence in the localities”. (Rawlings, judicial presence in the localities”. (Rawlings, 02, p.25)02, p.25)

The decay of the feudal system meant the The decay of the feudal system meant the system of ‘frankpledge’ could not survivesystem of ‘frankpledge’ could not survive

In the medieval system though the law was In the medieval system though the law was one amongst a variety of means of enforcing one amongst a variety of means of enforcing powerpower

1400-1600 The Tudors1400-1600 The Tudors

State officials take control of policing functions State officials take control of policing functions (parish constable, justice of the peace)(parish constable, justice of the peace)

The community retains functions tooThe community retains functions too Collapse of the feudal system created tensions Collapse of the feudal system created tensions

between rich and poor. Labouring classes seen as between rich and poor. Labouring classes seen as threat to orderthreat to order

Poor were criminalised (vagrants had hole bored in Poor were criminalised (vagrants had hole bored in the ear to identify them)the ear to identify them)

Certain activities also criminalised (illegitimacy, Certain activities also criminalised (illegitimacy, idleness, irreligion, poaching, drinking, dancing, idleness, irreligion, poaching, drinking, dancing, playing games) and resulted in moral policingplaying games) and resulted in moral policing

Poor relief for the ‘deserving’ or ‘impotent’ poor onlyPoor relief for the ‘deserving’ or ‘impotent’ poor only Policing had become more bureaucratic and Policing had become more bureaucratic and

protective of the needs of the richprotective of the needs of the rich

C17 and C18C17 and C18 Victim and householder increasingly displaced from Victim and householder increasingly displaced from

a policing rolea policing role Policing (watching, patrolling, detection) more and Policing (watching, patrolling, detection) more and

more the role of paid professionalsmore the role of paid professionals Emergence of the role of watchmen and thief –Emergence of the role of watchmen and thief –

takerstakers Rewards made detection more certainRewards made detection more certain Early 1800s Henry and John Fielding set up ‘The Early 1800s Henry and John Fielding set up ‘The

Bow Street Runners’ first official police force. Paid Bow Street Runners’ first official police force. Paid by Bow Street magistrates court and paid from by Bow Street magistrates court and paid from official funds. Bow Street Horse Patrol armed with official funds. Bow Street Horse Patrol armed with cutlasses, sticks and pistols. Thames River Police cutlasses, sticks and pistols. Thames River Police also emerge at this timealso emerge at this time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Street_Runnershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Street_Runners Continued to view policing as a local matter thoughContinued to view policing as a local matter though

Punishment: Hogarth’s Punishment: Hogarth’s drawing of the Stocksdrawing of the Stocks

C19C19 Radicalism of the American and French revolutions feared to spread to Radicalism of the American and French revolutions feared to spread to

EnglandEngland Political and industrial disorder such as the riots against Catholic Political and industrial disorder such as the riots against Catholic

toleration (Gordon Riots 1820, The Peterloo Riot 1819)toleration (Gordon Riots 1820, The Peterloo Riot 1819) Robert Peel became Home Secretary in 1822 and eventually parliament Robert Peel became Home Secretary in 1822 and eventually parliament

passed a law which established a police force for London (excluding the passed a law which established a police force for London (excluding the City) in 1829City) in 1829

The population were subjected to ‘policing’ and had no say in its The population were subjected to ‘policing’ and had no say in its structure and operationstructure and operation

Police had power of arrest without warrantPolice had power of arrest without warrant Main objectives were the prevention of crime and the policing of public Main objectives were the prevention of crime and the policing of public

disorder. Detection remained primarily the responsibility of the victimdisorder. Detection remained primarily the responsibility of the victim Criticised for being too paramilitary, taking the side of the authorities in Criticised for being too paramilitary, taking the side of the authorities in

political unrest (uniform, discipline and hierarchical organisation) and political unrest (uniform, discipline and hierarchical organisation) and for being too expensive. Called ‘Jenny Darbies’ a corruption of ‘gens for being too expensive. Called ‘Jenny Darbies’ a corruption of ‘gens d’armes’ in Frenchd’armes’ in French

Fingerprinting invented and used in 1899Fingerprinting invented and used in 1899 Local authority legislation gradually required police forces to be set up Local authority legislation gradually required police forces to be set up

and funded from local funds but problems with corruption and rising and funded from local funds but problems with corruption and rising crime rates continuedcrime rates continued

Peterloo MassacrePeterloo Massacre

Richard Carlile, Henry Hunt, John Richard Carlile, Henry Hunt, John CartwrightCartwright

Peterloo Memorial Peterloo Memorial Plaque Plaque

Peelers in the 1800sPeelers in the 1800s

This model taken up gradually across the country but not This model taken up gradually across the country but not without opposition from groups like the Chartistswithout opposition from groups like the Chartists

The County and Borough Police Act 1856 makes it The County and Borough Police Act 1856 makes it compulsory to establish a police forcecompulsory to establish a police force

London’s Last Watchman London’s Last Watchman (Charlie Rouse)(Charlie Rouse)

The roles of the ‘new police’ and the The roles of the ‘new police’ and the watchman conflictwatchman conflict

1850-19391850-1939 British policing recognised by others as a model of good British policing recognised by others as a model of good

practice in recognising the need to gain the consent of practice in recognising the need to gain the consent of the people to police wellthe people to police well

Not agreed with by those subject to policingNot agreed with by those subject to policing Widespread use/abuse of power in arresting people to Widespread use/abuse of power in arresting people to

prevent them from committing crime!prevent them from committing crime! Concerned mainly with petty offences and with the Concerned mainly with petty offences and with the

‘common man’‘common man’ Rise of the science of detection and the role of the Rise of the science of detection and the role of the

detectivedetective Increased power of the Home OfficeIncreased power of the Home Office Distinction drawn between ‘beat policeman’ and the Distinction drawn between ‘beat policeman’ and the

‘detective’‘detective’ Accepted that the state was now ‘almost entirely Accepted that the state was now ‘almost entirely

dependent upon the police force’ to deal with crime and dependent upon the police force’ to deal with crime and the criminalthe criminal

An Early An Early Photograph/Mugshot of Photograph/Mugshot of

SuspectSuspect

Post-war to the presentPost-war to the present Rising crime rates a cause of concern after the warRising crime rates a cause of concern after the war Post-war optimism about eradicating poverty and therefore Post-war optimism about eradicating poverty and therefore

crime seen to be problematic. Crime rates rise at the same crime seen to be problematic. Crime rates rise at the same time as incometime as income

Women officers opposed by Police Federation initiallyWomen officers opposed by Police Federation initially Controversy of mechanised beats and the loss of contact Controversy of mechanised beats and the loss of contact

with the publicwith the public Widespread use of the ‘unit beat’ system (combination of Widespread use of the ‘unit beat’ system (combination of

cars and foot patrols)cars and foot patrols) The Royal Commission on the Police 1960. Looked at The Royal Commission on the Police 1960. Looked at

recruitment and police community relations but failed to recruitment and police community relations but failed to make significant changes to improve these thingsmake significant changes to improve these things

PACE 1984 PACE 1984 Police community relations of the 1980 and 90sPolice community relations of the 1980 and 90s