The Development of a National Police Force

How did policing change in the 19th century?

After the introduction of the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829, Britain's central government gradually increased control of the setting up, organisation, control and funding of an official and professional police force.

Why did policing change in the 19th century?

Following the successful implementation of the London Metropolitan Police, the government worked to spread the system across the country.

How did the government change policing in the 19th century?

The government changed policing through 3 main steps:

• ❖ In 1835 the Municipal Corporations Act allowed towns to set up their own police forces.
• ❖ In 1839 the Rural Constabulary Act gave counties the power to set up police forces. It also gave JPs the power to appoint chief constables.
• ❖ In 1856, the Police Act forced obliged all counties to set up a police force.

What problems were there with changes to policing in the 19th century?

There were 3 main limitations to the government's policing reforms:

• ❖ To begin with, few Londoners had respect for the Metropolitan Police.
• ❖ In 1835, the Municipal Corporations Act allowed towns to set up their own police force. However, by 1837, only 93 out of 171 had done so.
• ❖ In 1839, the Rural Constabulary Act allowed counties to set up their own police forces. By 1850, only 36 had done so.

Who paid for the changes to policing in the 19th century?

Financing changed in 3 main ways over time:

• ❖ At first, counties and towns were supposed to meet most of the costs of their police force, but over time the responsibility became more centralised.
• ❖ At first, the government was prepared to pay 25% of the costs from taxes.
• ❖ By 1876, the government was paying the half the running costs of police forces that were run effectively.

When did the government change policing in the 1800s to make it compulsory across the country?

The government made it compulsory under the Police Act of 1856 for all towns and counties to set up a police force.

Why did the government change policing in the 1800s to make it compulsory across the country?

There were 2 main reasons why the government changed policing to make it compulsory:

• ❖ It had to be made compulsory because most areas of the country were slow to adopt police forces.
• ❖ The law also meant police forces would be inspected by government officials and only receive grants if their services were efficient.

What was the impact of the government making policing in the 1800s compulsory across the country?

By 1884 there were 39,000 police officers in Britain and over 200 separate forces.

What technology was brought in by the police force during the 19th century to change policing?

Over the course of the 19th century, the police force began to use 3 main types of technology to help it fight crime.

• ❖ From 1867, telegraph communications meant different police stations and forces could communicate and share information quickly and effectively.
• ❖ In the 1880s they began to use photography to record crime scenes.
• ❖ Fingerprinting was first used successfully to secure a conviction in 1897.

How much had policing changed by the end of the 19th century?

Towards the end of the 19th century, between 1870 and 1900, policing had developed a great deal.

Who joined the police after the government changes to policing in the 1800s?

In the late 1800s, police recruits came from two main groups:

• ❖ About 31% came from the countryside surrounding their area.
• ❖ About 12% were ex-soldiers.

What expectations were there about recruits after changes to policing in the Victorian era?

From the late 1800s, there were 3 main expectations of police recruits:

• ❖ It was preferred if they came from the countryside, as people from the country were seen as stronger and more difficult to corrupt than townsfolk.
• ❖ They were expected to be well-disciplined, truthful, quick, energetic and able to keep control of their temper.
• ❖ They were expected to be literate - able to read and write.

What were the benefits of joining the police after the government changed policing in the 1800s?

Those who joined the police did so to gain 3 key benefits:

• ❖ A steady, if not high, wage.
• ❖ The possibility of promotion.
• ❖ After 1860, a pension if they served on the force for 30 years.