As stated in the Introduction, the police force in the 1880's were favored better than the police force in the 1830's. Most people viewed the "bobbies" as an infringement on English social and political life. Later though, they developed new ways on dealing with crimes, such as replacing the original rattle with a whistle to let the general public know what is going on. By the end of the period, the police force started using telegraphs, photography, and fingerprinting to identify habitual offenders (Bloy).
"London's Metropolitan Police uniforms consisted of a top hat often called a "stovepipe" or "chimney pot hat", swallow tailed coat and trousers which were navy-blue in the winter and white in the summer, together with wellington boots as footwear. In the tails of the coat were carried the truncheon (decorated with the Royal coat of arms and the words)" (Banerjee). Besides preventing crime, the police took on the roles of the nightly watchmen. These tasks would include: calling out the time,watching for fires, lighting lamps, and other public services that could be offered (Bloy). |
The Metropolitan Police Act was written in 1829, which was a little bit before the start of the Victorian Age, but it wasn't until the start of the Victorian Age when the police force established the principles that shaped modern English policing. "First, the primary means of policing was conspicuous patrolling by uniformed police officers. Second, command and control were to be maintained through a centralized, pseudo-military organisational structure. The first Commissioners were Charles Rowan (an ex-Colonel) and Richard Mayne (a Barrister). They insisted that the prevention of crime was the first object of the police force. Third, police were to be patient, impersonal, and professional" (Bloy).
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What were the biggest crimes the Police dealt with during the Victorian Age?
Leaving aside drunkenness, theft was one of the biggest crimes during the Victorian Age. While children might pickpocket and steal,women might engage in shoplifting, and, as for London's sly con men, cheats, "magsmen" or "sharpers," they too were notorious (Bloy).
Leaving aside drunkenness, theft was one of the biggest crimes during the Victorian Age. While children might pickpocket and steal,women might engage in shoplifting, and, as for London's sly con men, cheats, "magsmen" or "sharpers," they too were notorious (Bloy).