The Metropolitan Police Act 1829 (10 Geo.4, c.44) is an
Act of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...
, introduced by
Sir Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was a British Conservative statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835 and 1841–1846) simultaneously serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer ...
, which established the
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
Metropolitan Police
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), formerly and still commonly known as the Metropolitan Police (and informally as the Met Police, the Met, Scotland Yard, or the Yard), is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and ...
(with the exception of the
City of London
The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...
), replacing the previously disorganized system of
parish constables and
watchmen
''Watchmen'' is an American comic book Limited series (comics), maxiseries by the British creative team of writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins (comics), John Higgins. It was published monthly by DC Comics in 1986 a ...
. It is one of the
Metropolitan Police Acts 1829 to 1895
Metropolitan Police Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used for legislation relating to the Metropolitan Police.
List
*The Metropolitan Police Act 1829 (10 Geo 4 c 44)
*The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 (2 & 3 Vict c 47)
*The Metrop ...
.
The Act
The Act was the enabling legislation for what is often considered to be the first modern police force, the "bobbies" or "peelers" (after Peel), which served as the model for modern urban
policing
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and th ...
throughout Britain. Until the passage of the Act, the
Statute of Winchester
The Statute of Winchester of 1285 (13 Edw. I, St. 2; Law French: '), also known as the Statute of Winton, was a statute enacted by King Edward I of England that reformed the system of Watch and Ward ( watchmen) of the Assize of Arms of 1252, and r ...
of 1285 was cited as the primary legislation regulating the policing of the country since the
Norman Conquest
The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conque ...
.
See also
*
History of law enforcement in the United Kingdom
The history of law enforcement in the United Kingdom charts the development of law enforcement in the United Kingdom. It spans the period from the Middle Ages, through to the development of the first modern police force in the world in the ninetie ...
*
History of the Metropolitan Police
The history of the Metropolitan Police in London is long and complex, with many different events taking place between its inception in 1829 to the present day.
Pre-1829 London policing
Before the passing of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, la ...
*
Peelian principles
The Peelian principles summarise the ideas that Sir Robert Peel developed to define an ethical police force. The approach expressed in these principles is commonly known as policing by consent in the United Kingdom and other countries such as Ire ...
References
Citations
Notes
Further reading
*
* Gash, Norman. ''Mr. Secretary Peel'' (1962) 1:477-507
* Harrison, Arch. "The English Police 1829-1856: Consensus or Conflict" ''International Journal of Police Science & Management'' 2 (1999): 175+
*
External links
Inspector Denning - Victorian Police in Westminster - UK Parliament Living HeritageMetropolitan Police Act 1829 on the UK Parliament websiteCrime, Punishment and Protest Through Time, c.1450-2004
{{UK legislation
United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1829
Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning London
History of the Metropolitan Police
1829 in London
Police legislation in the United Kingdom
Robert Peel