212 lecture 2 notes PDF

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lecture notes dr mark edwards...

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CRIM 212 LECTURE 2 THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE POLICE Not a ‘long history’ – doesn’t stretch back thousands of years. Societies’ response to behaviours has changed. Stages: pre-modern policing; the ‘New Police’ (1829); further developments (until 1900). There exist different perspectives on police history. History is important because what is now is a consequence of what was. Helps to understand the foundations upon which the police are developed and the modern context of policing in E&W. Policing is a social phenomenon – not just the activities of the police. Key thing about human nature: don’t learn much from success, learn more from failure. History provides clues for the future and helps to understand continuing influences. 1. The Old Police - Anglo-Saxon policing: ordinary people involved in pursuit of offenders and maintenance of order. Anglo-Saxon kings codes of law (600AD-1000AD). There was a recognition that perpetrators may be killed. Hue and cry – legal obligation on either victim/witnesses to shout up and chase them; patchy provision depending on area and class status (Rawlings, 2008). Human sociality doesn’t change much over time, but the context does. Potentially, hue and cry is the origin of neighbourhood watch. 2. Pre-1829 - Statute of Winchester, 1285: duty of everyone to maintain the King’s Peace (slides) … The rise of the constable -

1300s: breakdown of the feudal system. 1400s: famine and the plague. Labour shortages led to wage rises; people migrated to towns and cities for higher wages; concerns over lack of social cohesion and order.

Broader social context 1700s-1800s -

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People move en masse from rural to urban. Rising crime with growing inequality. Growing public concern re: rising crime; incoherent/inconsistent state response; offenders escaping justice (e.g. because of cost of production, or jurors’ fear of death penalty. Policing involved street patrols and community engagement; the private sector primarily provided police services; concerns about inconsistent and unfair policing; discontent with the status quo of criminal justice in the UK.

Sir Robert Peel and the ‘New Police’ -

Home Secretary 1822-1830, and then Prime Minister. A reformer and liberaliser of criminal law, and the ‘father’ of British Policing. Encouraged officer civility and handedness; attempts to distinguish from the military – civilian roles; blue rather than red uniforms; limited weaponry; no military ranks. Developed the ‘Peelian Principles’, of which there are 9: 1. To prevent crime and disorder, as an alternative to their repression by military force and severity of legal punishment. 2. The power of the police is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behaviour, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.

3. To secure and maintain the respect and approval of the public……… The ‘New’ Metropolitan Police -

2 commissioners, 17 superintendents, 69 inspectors, 323 sergeants, 2906 constables. Constables called ‘bobbies’ or ‘peelers’ after Robert Peel. Initially for prevention of crime (patrolling) but also apprehension. Instilling and protecting order and respectability.

The Conservative Perspective Issues Revisionist Perspective Other perspectives Public reception of the ‘New Police’ -

Not popular at first: concerns about effectiveness, cost and value for money. But with further investment and reform the ‘new police’ grew in popularity.

Key legislation 1850s onwards: consolidation -

Noted successes and failures; continuing Home Office push for police centralisation, rationalisation and uniformity. Further expansion of police role, beyond crime prevention: traffic policing; specialist branches; rise of forensic science and crime investigation.

More legislation -

Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984: police powers; limitations; expectations.

Key historical changes -

Professionalisation; standardisation; bureaucratisation; specialisation; militarisation; technologies; centralisation.

Summary: -

Policing has taken many forms in British history: policing is of its time. These all highlight the importance of broader social, political and economic contexts for shaping policing (and popularity). There are many historical remnants still visible in policing today, and lots of parallels to be drawn. Parallels with policing discourses today....