Describe law and order in the late nineteenth century

                      When the M.E.T was first created they were unpopular, because of their use of force on lower classes and many early recruits had a reputation for drunkenness even when on duty, this lost public respect.  By the mid-c19th many people began to see the police as defenders of order, however this reputation remained mixed.  The M.E.T were only meant to prevent crime not solve it, they patrolled the streets and dealt with drunkenness and beggars, evidence shows that even the middleclass and working class disliked the M.E.T because of its brutal use of the baton charge in poor areas of London.  The focus of the M.E.T was to prevent not solve crime, this affected crime as criminals would not be caught; this meant that murders increased as murderers were not caught.  The police were not very affective, they just prevented crime not solve it.

                     Between 1840 and 1901, the M.E.T went through some significant changes, which meant improved organisation.  In 1842 the first detective department was created by the home office, the “Rogues gallery” was later created in 1862, which was photographs of criminals.  Following the 1877 “Turf fraud scandal” in which detectives were found guilty of corruption, this lead to CID being formed.  Detective work of the police became more organised as a department dedicated to detective work was created, which led to improvements in maintaining law and order.  Detectives methods also improved as more advanced methods were introduced, in 1892 the alphonse Bertillon method of identification was adopted, which involved measuring parts of the body, in 1901 finger printing was adopted and the first police photographer was appointed.  As time went on the police force gradually became more advanced and organised.

                 Throughout the nineteenth century police work stayed much the same, they still only prevented crime not solve it.  Police constables received little training, and most of the training involved military drill.  Most forces trained on the job, hours were long sometimes fourteen hours for seven days a week.  Even though many changes were made harsh methods continued, this meant the M.E.T’s reputation remained mixed.

                The reputation of the police forced remained mixed throughout the nineteenth century; this was mainly because of their use of force, and their lack of organisation, such as being drunk whilst on duty.  The publics view remained mixed, the working class disliked the M.E.T, because of their use of the baton charge in poor areas of London and even the middleclass disliked the M.E.T.  They were viewed as favouring middle and upper class over the poor and working classes.  Overall the police force gradually became more effective, new departments were set up, and organisation increased, however with their use of the baton charge and favouring upper and middle classes people’s views remained mixed throughout the nineteenth century.