The History of Police: Early English Origins

The History of Police

• Origins in English Society
  • The foundation of U.S. police agencies, similar to criminal law, stems from early English society.
  • Before the Norman Conquest, England lacked a formal police force.
  • Individual responsibility was paramount: every person in villages was accountable for assisting neighbors and safeguarding the settlement from criminals and raiders.
• The Pledge System
  • This initial system was known as the pledge system.
  • People were organized into groups of $10$ families, called tythings (or tithings).
  • These tythings were responsible for policing their own minor issues, such as:
    • Dealing with disturbances.
    • Fire prevention and response.
    • Protection against wild animals.
    • Addressing other local threats.
• Roles within the Pledge System
  • Tythingman: The leader of a tything.
  • Hue and Cry: A call made by the tythingman to assemble helpers and alert the village when trouble arose.
• Evolution of Policing Roles
  • Hundred: Ten tythings were grouped together to form a hundred.
  • Hundredman: Appointed by the local nobleman to oversee the affairs of a hundred.
    • Dealt with more serious violations of the law.
    • Is often considered the first true police officer.
    • Later referred to as the parish constable.
  • Shires: These were territorial divisions similar to modern-day counties.
  • Shire Reeve: Appointed by the Crown or a local landowner to supervise a shire and maintain order.
    • A direct forerunner of today's sheriff.
    • His duties evolved to include actively pursuing and apprehending law violators.