the reforms of robert peel

• who was robert peel?


  he became home secretary in 1822, and then was prime minister from 1834 to 1835, and then again from 1841-1846.
• what did peel believe in?


  preventing crime and reforming criminals.
• what did peel do to the numbers of crimes punishable by death?


  reduced it to 100
• what did peel persuade parliament to pass?


  The 1823 Gaols Act
• what was the 1823 Gaols Act?


  it said that prisoners should receive regular visits from prison chaplains, tha gaolers should be paid, and that female prisoners should have female wardens.
• what was not introduced until the 1853 Prisons Act?


  paid inspectors
• what did the 1826 economic downturn lead to?


  increased poverty and so increased crime and rioting.
• what did peel argue would be a good idea, and what did it lead to?

  to have a centralised system for keeping the peace across London. As a result, the first Metropolitan Police officers were appointed in September 1829.
• what were the new police officers organised in?

  a military style hierarchy
• where did the new police officers have their headquarters?

  Scotland Yard
• what did the new police officers have?

  standardised training.
• initially, how many new recruits were in this police force?


  2800
• how many of 2800 recruits stayed for a year or more?


  600
• what were people worried about?

  oppression from a military style presence on the street and the increased cost to the tax payer
• Peel's policing guidelines

  • the police exist to prevent crime and disorder
  • they would police by consent and would need the respect o the public
  • to do this they would need to demonstrate impartial service to the law
  • they should only use physical force when necessary and when other options have not worked
  • the police are part of the public not above the public (citizens in uniform)