At the age of 21, Sir Robert entered politics courtesy of his influential father by clinching the position of Member of Parliament for Cashel in the County Tipperery (McCarthy, 2005, p. 6). Besides his father, Peel’s other supporter was Sir Robert had was Sir Arthur Wellesley, the Chief Secretary for Ireland. Peel entered the cabinet in 1822 at the age of 34 as Home Secretary where he introduced many reforms most memorably the reform of the criminal law where he reduced the number of crimes that were punishable by death. He also reformed the goal system whereby he introduced education for inmates and payment of gaolers among other reforms (Evans, 2006, p. 20). His most famous one was the Metropolitan Police Force under the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829.
The Metropolitan Police Force was based in the Scotland Yard, London and the first’s employees were a thousand constables who were nicknamed Peelers or Bobbies (McCarthy, 2005, p. 6). After the success of the Bobbies in fighting and reducing incidences of crime, every city in the UK was required to have its own police forces at the beginning of 1857. Peel developed the Peelian principles that were to guide the conduct of policemen in the course of their duty. The most memorable of the nine principles was, “the police are the public and the public are the police.” The nine Peelian Principles are: the reason for the existence of police is to fight crime and prevent disorder. Secondly, the public’s approval of police actions greatly affects the ability of police to carry out their duties. Thirdly, the public should observe the law and co-operate with the police so that they will respect the public. The fourth principle explains that the more the public co-operates with the police, the less the force the police will use on them. The fifth principle states that the police seek and preserve public favor by providing impartial service to the law and not by public opinion. The sixth principle goes on to say that police will use physical force only as the last resort when the public does not heed to warning, persuasion or advice. The seventh principle implies that the police are the public and the public are the police. The eighth principle goes on to state that the police should direct their actions entirely towards their functions and never to suggest to usurp the powers of the judiciary. The last but not least principle, the ninth one spells out that the effectiveness of the police is the absence of crime and disorder and not the presence of police making arrests and taking down criminals in the streets.
Likewise over the past two centuries in America, there wasn’t an organized police force. The citizens were tasked with upholding the rule of law, maintaining order and punishing the criminal elements in society. Law enforcement was left to voluntary citizens, watchmen, vigilante groups, and constables or sheriffs. Usually the citizens took the law into their hands whenever, whenever and however they deemed fit. Justice was typically an individual matter as there was no system in place to govern and uphold law and order. Over time, different legislations were passed to create a more organized justice system. Peels reforms in the UK were adapted in the US to help come up with ways of recruiting police, applying uniform penalties to law breakers and coming up with an independent method of control of the police. The beginning of a professionalized police force in America began in 1930 shortly after the Peel reforms on the Metropolitan Police Force in the London’s Scotland Yard. The new system of uniformed policemen began in Boston and New York. The effects of the Peelian Principles were felt in the Northeastern States which were fairing well as compared to the compared to the Southern and Western states. The Peelian principles went on to take effect in the United States through three eras. The first era was the Political era from 1840 to 1920. The major challenges faced were political interference with the police and official corruption. The second era was the Professional era from 1920 to 1970. This era sought to fix the problems encountered in the first era by hiring qualified and competent police officers to tackle inefficiencies exploitation and misuse of the police force. Other changes took place in the 1960s due to civil rights abuse. The third and present era is called the Community Model era that aims to create more understanding of the police force and increase contact with the public. It also focuses on maintaining high standards and continuous improvement of the police force o better serve and protect the public and their property.
References
Evans, E. J. (2006). Sir Robert Peel: statesmanship, power and party. London, UK: Taylor and
Francis
McCarthy, J. (2005). Sir Robert Peel. Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing.
