The Development of Policing in the Industrial Period

What was policing like in industrial times?

In the early 18th century, the law was still enforced using various methods employed previously. However, attempts at reform by individuals and the government in the 19th century saw more organised and effective policing.

How was policing in the industrial period the same as previously?

Policing in the industrial period remained the same as previously in 5 ways:

• ❖ Parish constables who dealt with disorderly behaviour, petty criminals and beggars.
• ❖ Watchmen, who were organised by parish constables and were responsible for protecting private property.
• ❖ Part-time soldiers who were used to dealing with rebellions or riots.
• ❖ Policing mostly remained the responsibility of ordinary people in the local community.
• ❖ Some towns had salaried constables, watchmen and foot-patrols who were more experienced than part-time enforcement.

What were the problems with industrial period policing?

There were 5 main problems with policing in the 18th century:

• ❖ Most law enforcement officers were not paid. This made them less efficient as they did not have enough time or support, and also had full-time jobs.
• ❖ The few who were paid received low wages, and the job had low status.
• ❖ Some people were concerned that paid watchmen and constables had too close a relationship with the criminals they were supposed to police.
• ❖ Urbanisation caused by mass migration from countryside to town made enforcing the law more difficult. It was harder to keep track of people.
• ❖ Extreme poverty in some areas of big city areas, such as London, raised concerns about the growth of a criminal underclass.

How did policing change in industrial Britain?

The nature of policing changed in 5 important ways:

• ❖ Some property owners and traders began to hire beadles to protect their premises from crime.
• ❖ To combat crime, victims might hire thief-takers to track down criminals and stolen goods.
• ❖ More gamekeepers were introduced to deal with the rise in poaching.
• ❖ In 1748, the Fielding brothers set up the Bow Street Runners, a private policing force that was professional and well-organised.
• ❖ Eventually, in 1829, the first uniformed government police force was introduced in London. This system then spread around the country.

Why was there opposition to a police force during the industrial period?

By 1800, there were 3 main reasons people opposed the idea of a police force:

• ❖ People thought it would be too expensive to fund.
• ❖ They thought it might be used by the government to limit freedom and privacy.
• ❖ They didn't think it would make a difference to law and order.

How did the government change policing in industrial Britain?

In the 18th century the government attempted to get involved in policing, but it had limited success because of 2 main reasons:

• ❖ The government could not afford to increase the number of customs officers, which made them very ineffective.
• ❖ In Suffolk, in 1749 and in the 1780s, when the army put a temporary end to smuggling, smugglers turned to highway robbery and housebreaking.