Sir Robert Peel
In 1829, Sir Robert Peel created the Metropolitan Police when he served as Home Secretary of England. He created the first modern police force, the Metropolitan Police in London. According to Peel, the real key for policing is "the police are the people and the people are the police (Wikipedia 2010).” It was his belief that prevention of crime could be accomplished without intruding into the lives of citizens. He set about nine principles that still seem to be true and useful in the present day world when observed. Peel established nine principles to his theory of policing. The National Crime Prevention Council defines Peels’ nine principles as follows:
1. The basic mission for whom the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.
2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.
3. Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
4. The degree of cooperation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionally to the necessity of the use of force.
5. Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the expertise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.
7. Police at all time should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition; the police are public and the public are the police. The police being only full-time individuals charged with the duties that are incumbent on all of the citizens.
8. Police should always direct their actions strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police
1. The basic mission for whom the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.
2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.
3. Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
4. The degree of cooperation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionally to the necessity of the use of force.
5. Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the expertise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.
7. Police at all time should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition; the police are public and the public are the police. The police being only full-time individuals charged with the duties that are incumbent on all of the citizens.
8. Police should always direct their actions strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police
References: Community Relations Service. (2003). Principles of Good Policing: Avoiding Violence Between Police and Citizens. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/crs/pubs/principlesofgoodpolicingfinal092003.htm Larrabee, A. K. (2007). Law Enforcement: Sir Robert Peel 's Concept of Community Policing in Today 's Society.Retrieved from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/435980/law_enforcement_sir_robert_peels_concept.html?cat=17 National Crime Prevention Council. (2006). Crime Prevention History and Theory [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.ncpc.org/training/powerpoint-trainings/crime-prevention-history-and-theory.ppt. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. (2010). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Robert_Peel