POLICE FORCE HISTORY

POLICE AROUND 1900

MOUNTED ENGLISH POLICE OFFICER

The beginning of today's police force took place in 1740. They were civilian officers who maintained public order, safety and enforced the law. These civilian officers were called Bow Street Runners in London and responsible to catch thieves

In 1796 the French ministry of police were founded and properly organised by 1800.

In 1814 Sir Robert Peel established the first professional British force. They were called either 'peelers' or 'bobbies'

In 1829 Peel founded the London's Metropolitan Police Force. This police force was also introduced in other British cities.

European countries establish the French way of a national police force. The developing countries of Africa and Asia also copied the French national police force.

Countries like Australia, USA and Canada copied the British way of a local police force.

In 1842 the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was introduced which is a division of London's Metropolitan Police. It was the first non-uniformed detective unit.

1850 English police were uniformed and paid regular salaries. Their duty was not only crime prevention by patrolling, they had to light the street lamps, call the time and watch for fire.

1908 saw the Federal Bureau of Investigation established in the USA. It was a detective agency under national control.

Britain was the only country for a very long time where the police did not carry guns and confronted any criminal literally with bare hands. The police had such a respect that if any criminal insured or shot a policeman the underworld exposed that criminal. It was a sad day when the government armed the police. Ever since it is getting worse and the criminals don't think nothing of shooting anybody as well as a police officer.