Section B: law enforcement in the 18th and 19th centuries

What were the main types of local law enforcement in the 18th century?

Parish constables, watchmen, and part-time soldiers.

What did parish constables do?

 Dealt with petty criminals.

What did watchmen do?

Protected private property.

What did part-time soldiers do?

Helped deal with riots.

How did towns improve constables and watchmen’s roles?

Some began paying salaries, making them more experienced and professional.

though low pay and low social status.

Who created the Bow Street Runners, and when + who took over after?

Henry Fielding in 1748.

his brother John Fielding in 1754

What were thief-takers appointed as within the Bow Street Runners?

Principal officers.

How were the Bow Street Runners originally funded and how did this change in 1785?

First funded by victims’ fees; from 1785 paid by the government.

Name two professional techniques used by the Bow Street Runners.

Regular patrols (foot and horse) and sharing information with other enforcers.

What did the 1792 Middlesex Justice Act do?

Set up more law enforcement offices in Middlesex and Westminster.

What did the 1829 Metropolitan Police Act establish?

The first professional police force in London.

What were early police officers known as and why?

“Bobbies,” named after Robert Peel.

What did the 1856 Police Act require?

 All areas to have a centrally controlled professional police force.

How did policing improve in 1869?

National Crime Records were created and telegraphs improved information sharing.

When was the first detective branch at Scotland Yard created, and what was special about it?

1842; detectives wore plain clothes and focused on investigations.

What is the CID (founded 1878) and what innovations did it use?

Criminal Investigation Department; used new methods like handwriting analysis and first successful fingerprint use in 1902.