Case study: Robert Peel

• When did Robert Peel become home secretary?

  1822
• Robert Peel believed in preventing crime and allowing criminals to reform instead of just deterring them.
• Who was Robert Peel influenced by and why?

  He was influenced by Elizabeth Frys work to reform prisons. He applied the Gaols Act in 1823 to apply the same standards
• Peel believed there were to many police organizations and that every area of London should get similar standards of policing
• In 1829, Robert Peel set up the metropolitan police force as a central police unit for London
• Key principles of metropolitan police by Robert Peel:

  
  

  • The publics trust, so that it seemed voluntary to follow crime rather than forceful
  • Only use force if necessary
  • Not biased to a specific group
• The main sign that the metropolitan police force was effective would be a lack of crime and a peaceful society
• Peel had been called the 'father of modern policing' for his role in the creation of the metropolitan police
• Some people worried about the risk of their freedom partially because people knew about the strict policing in France
• The first officers were poorly trained and did not act morally. This was exaggerated in the media which made the new force seem laughable
• Peel made police wear blue uniform to assure the public they were not a threat like an army