The Metropolitan Police Act established the principles that shaped modern English policing. The first Commissioners were Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne. They insisted that the prevention of crime was the key object of the police force. First, the primary means of policing was conspicuous patrolling by uniformed police officers. Second, command and control were to be maintained through a centralised, semi-military organisational structure. Third, police were to be patient, impersonal, and professional. Finally, the authority of the English constable mock from three official sources: the crown, the law, and the consent and co-operation of the citizenry. Crime and disorder were to be controlled by preventive patrols and no stipends were permitted for successful solutions of crimes or the recovery of stolen property. Crime prevention was not the only business of the new police force. They inherited many functions of the watchmen such as: lighting lamplights, calling out the time, watching for fires and providing other public services. It has been suggested that as London's crime-rate fell, that of nearby areas increased. The number of offences did seem to increase in areas of London where the police were not allowed to go, example as Wandsworth became known as "black" Wandsworth because of the number of criminals who lived there and as the Royal Commission pointed out at 1839,
“Criminals migrate from town to town, and from the towns where they harbour, and where there are distinct houses maintained for their accommodation, they issue forth and commit depredations upon the surrounding rural districts; the metropolis being the chief centre from which they migrate”
The Metropolitan Police Service covers an area known as the Metropolitan Police District (MPD), which today coincides with Greater London, excluding the City of London. Before April 1, 2000, the MPD covered a larger area, established well before the current borders of Greater London were set. This larger area covered parts of Surrey, Hertfordshire and Essex, specifically all of Epsom and Ewell, Hertsmere and Spelthorne districts, along with Banstead, Cheshunt, Chigwell, Esher, , Waltham Abbey. Along with the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police, Greater London is also policed by the (responsible for policing of property) and the (responsible for policing on the , , and ). The , which patrolled a number of London’s major parks, was absorbed into the Metropolitan Police Service in . There are also a very small number of full police power parks police forces, such as the (which polices the ) and , whose officers have full police powers within their limited jurisdiction, but all substantial crime and incidents remain the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police. Some London boroughs also maintain their own borough park constabularies (such as ). However, their remit and powers only extend to “park bye-laws”, meaning constables of borough parks constabularies are not police officers as such, with any crime remaining the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police. The Metropolitan Police has for each of the 32 London Boroughs, with another for . Historically, boroughs were grouped into numbered areas, but these are no longer generally in use, save for a few administrative reasons. From 1994 to 2000 there were five: Central (consisting of the with and Hammersmith and Fulham, and North-West, North-East, South-East and South-West). Prior to 1994 there had been eight divisions: North, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West and Westminster.
The Metropolitan Police consisted of about 28,000 police officers and 14,000 civilian staff headed by a Commissioner and a Deputy Commissioner in 1998. Police stations and operational police units are organised into five geographical areas headed by Assistant Commissioners. There is also a Specialist Operations Department with its own Assistant Commissioner, dealing with international and organised crime; terrorism (including Special Branch), protection duties connected with the Royal Family, diplomats and the Palace of Westminster; and forensic science support. The Metropolitan Police is also responsible for the National Identification Service (including the National Fingerprint Office and the National Criminal Record Office), and the Aliens Registration Office. The administration of the force is headed by a Receiver and by Directors of Personnel, Performance Review and Management Services, Finance, Technology, Property Services, and Public Affairs and Internal Communications.
The public’s reaction had made a resistance to the new system from those who regarded an organised uniform police force as a threat to their civil liberties and also the impotence of this type of local policing with little control e.g. over the London mob. While the patrolling officers on the streets are in need of the co-operation of the public, underlying it all was an awareness of the need to establish good relationships with the public, as the officers are not the public’s favourite. For this reason, the whole tenor of the instructions to the constables was to maintain what would be term today as ‘low profile’ policing. The strength of the force was around 3,000, but turnover was extremely high, mainly due to drunkenness, a reflection of the calibre of men attracted by the low rates of pay deliberately set by Peel. He considered that this would keep gentlemen from joining as he thought them to be "above the work". Public distrust of the police continued for some time.
Unfortunately, the development of policing continued to be hampered by poor pay and conditions, and there was considerable dissatisfaction among police officers. A series of concealed meetings and demonstrations calling for a pay rise precipitated the first police strike in 1872, with demands for the right to combine in order to bring pressure to bear. An increase of pay was awarded but meetings continued, organisers dismissed and sentences of imprisonment imposed. A further strike in 1890 was no more successful. Apart from higher pay, other demands were for one rest day a week, a guaranteed pension and the ability to form a union. Trade Unions had been legalised and policemen now wanted a union to obtain improvements in their own working conditions. The weekly rest day was granted in 1910 but the remainder of police demands, including the call for a union, were as far off as ever when War broke out in 1914.
As now, after 175 years of experiences, the Metropolitan Police is mature and have a sound construction, many more Parliament Acts and section is added into the Metropolitan Act 1829. This will advance the Policing system and leading ahead for a better society.
Reference:
Books
-Critchley, T.A. (1967) A History of the Police in England and Wales 900 - 1966, London: BRC
-Emsley, C (1996) The English Police, 2nd Edition, Wheatsheaf Harvester, London.
-Emsley, C., and Clapson, M. (1994) 'Recruiting the English Policeman C. 1840-1940,' Policing and Society, Vol 3, pp. 269-286. London: Hambledon Press
-Lustgarten, L (1986) The Governance of the Police London
-Phillips, D., (1977) Crime and Authority in Victorian England, London:Croom Helm.
-Rawlings, P. (2000) Policing: A Short History, Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
-Reiner, R., (2000) The Politics of the Police, 3rd Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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