Combatting Crime in the 19th Century (WJEC Eduqas GCSE History): Revision Note

Timeline

Why was the 19th Century a Time of Major Change in Combatting Crime? - Summary 

In the 19th century, there were significant changes in how crime was tackled. Before this period, law enforcement relied on local unpaid volunteers as towns and cities grew; this was no longer effective. The work of the Bow Street Runners, set up by Henry and John Fielding, was the first major step towards a more organised and professional police force. They introduced new ideas such as regular patrols and record-keeping to help prevent crime. 

Building on their success, Sir Robert Peel established the Metropolitan Police in 1829, giving London its first official police force with paid, full-time officers. Over time, the system expanded across England and Wales through new laws, creating a national network of police forces. This marked the beginning of modern policing, replacing community responsibility with professional law enforcement.

The Establishment of the Bow Street Runners

• Thomas de Veil, in 1729, was appointed as a justice of the peace for the City of Westminster 

  • His office was in Bow Street 

    • Criminal activity in this area was high 

  • De Veil investigated crimes and arrested criminals 

    • His work in this area inspired others, such as the Fielding brothers 

Henry and John Fielding: The Bow Street Runners 

• Henry and John Fielding were appointed magistrates 

  • Henry was a magistrate in the Bow Street area 

    • He was concerned about the high crime rates in the area and wanted to reduce crime 

• In 1751, Henry Fielding published a book entitled An Enquiry into the Late Increase of Robbers 1751 

  •  This book analysed crime and found that 

    • There was corruption in the government 

    • People would rather choose a life of crime than work 

    • Only six out of the 80 constables in London were effective 

• Henry also 

  • Kept records of crimes 

  • Placed adverts 

    • Asking locals for help solving crimes

  • Established a magazine called The Covent-Garden Journal in 1752

    • This published information about local crimes 

  • Sent inventory lists of stolen property to pawnbrokers and innkeepers 

  • Established a policing force of ‘runners’ and ‘thief-takers’ to catch criminals; they were 

    • Paid a guinea a week 

    • Trained by Henry 

    • Effective in catching criminals 

    • Initially known as ‘Mr Fielding’s People’. Then later, as the ‘Bow Street Runners’ 

• Due to Henry’s poor health, John Fielding, his half-brother, was appointed as a magistrate to help him 

  • John ran the Bow Street Runners in 1754 

• John followed many of the same strategies as Henry 

  • He published a newspaper called The Quarterly Pursuit in 1772 

    • Providing information on crimes and criminals 

    • In 1786, this became a weekly publication under the name of The Public Hue and Cry 

• John made a series of suggestions to the government on how to improve the policing in London, including proposals to 

  • Divide London into six areas 

    • Paid JPs would manage these areas and their police stations 

    • The government rejected this proposal, but they did grant £600 to create a Bow Street horse patrol 

  • Provide John with information about crimes from JPs across the country to be published 

    • The government gave John £400 to set up the newspaper The Hue and Cry 

    • In 1800, this became known as the Police Gazette 

  • Force all chief constables within 100 miles of London to live on the main road going into London so they can catch criminals 

    • This plan was rejected as high constables refused to do it 

• John Fielding was knighted for his role in the Bow Street Runners in 1761

• Sir John Fielding died in 1780

• Other magistrates continued to run the Bow Street organisation. Bow Street continued to be effective as

  • The government in 1792 funded seven other magistrates to have six full-time constables in London

  • Two magistrates associated with Bow Street, John Harriot and Patrick Colquhoun, helped ship owners by establishing the Thames River Police 

    • Ship owners funded the force 

    • They recovered £1220,000 worth of stolen goods in the first year 

    • By 1800, the government funded the River Police 

  • Bow Street Runners increased to 68 

  • In 1805, there were 54 armed horse patrol officers  

How Effective were the Bow Street Runners? 

• Despite people's opposition to a formalised police force, Bow Street was seen as successful because it 

  • Reduced crime 

  • Introduced the idea of preventing crime 

    • Rather than responding to crimes that have already happened 

  • Used an already established system 

    • They used JPs and law officers already in positions 

Peel & the Metropolitan Police

Who was Robert Peel?

• Sir Robert Peel was a 19th-century politician

  • He was initially Home Secretary (for two separate terms)

  • He later became Prime Minister (also for two separate terms)

• Peel took many actions to achieve his aims of reducing crime and reforming the penal code

The Creation of the Metropolitan Police, 1829 

• Peel wanted an ethical police force

• His Peelian principles still provide the foundation for modern policing in Britain today:

  • Centralisation of policing standards across London

    • An impartial and objective approach

    • Lawful behaviour

    • A positive relationship and cooperation with the public

    • To only use physical force as a last resort

  • Differentiation from the army

    • Non-military uniform

    • No firearms

• In 1829, the Metropolitan Police Force Act came into effect

• The new Metropolitan Police Force had its headquarters at Scotland Yard, and also

  • Divided London into 17 divisions 

    • Each division had 144 constables and a superintendent

    • Constables patrolled their own beat in their area 

  • Paid their police officers a wage of one guinea a week 

    • Approximately £1.05 

  • Supplied police officers with a

    • Blue uniform 

    • Wooden truncheon and rattle. Which was later replaced by a whistle in 1884

    • Top hats 

• The Metropolitan Police Act of 1839 

  • Extended the area from a seven-mile area to a 15-mile radius from Charing Cross 

    • This ended the Bow Street Runners and the Thames River Police as they were brought into the Metropolitan Police 

• After 1839, the Metropolitan Police force grew

  • By 1900, there were approximately 16,000 police men and 21 divisions 

The Extension of Police Forces

• As the Metropolitan Police force was a success, the government passed a series of laws establishing a similar police force across England and Wales 

  • The Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 

    • Reformed some rotten boroughs 

    • Allowed for police forces to be created 

    • It was unpopular by 1837, and only 93 out of 171 boroughs created a police force

  • The Rural Police Act, 1839 

    • Allowed justices of the peace to create a police force

    • This was not compulsory 

    • This was unpopular, as by 1856, only 55 counties had created a police force 

  • The County and Borough Police Act, 1856 

    • This act was compulsory 

    • Any county or borough that did not have a police force had to create one 

    • The Home Secretary appointed Inspectors of Constabulary to inspect each police force 

• Special police units were later developed in response to the ever-changing nature of crime, including 

  • The Detective Branch, 1842 

    • Created in response to the limits of uniformed police officers 

    • Plain-clothed uniformed officers 

    • Included six sergeants and constables 

  • Criminal Records Office, 1869 

    • Created at Scotland Yard, London 

    • Contains records of criminals and crimes 

  • Criminal Investigation Department (CID), 1878 

    • Replaced the Detective Branch  

  • Special Irish Branch, 1883 

    • Created in response to the threat of Irish terrorism 

    • A specialised unit branched off the CID 

    • From 1888, it became known as the Special Branch