1. Why was the Police Force set up in 1829?

2. What does this source tell you about the problems of preventing crime before 1829?
‘A part time parish constable who is perhaps new to his office every year and cannot be aware of criminals’ habits and plans also has his own business to take care of. He knows that his term of office as constable will soon expire so he does not give it the attention it requires’
John Hopkins Warden, a constable in Bedford 1821, writing about the existing system of constables that had lasted for centuries

3. What was the problem of policing prevention before 1829?
During 1700’s old method of policing continued as they had done for centuries.
Constables and watchmen were employed in villages and towns.
Some were efficient but many did not have the time or support to be effective.
Many of them had full-time jobs too.
In Industrial London, Constables had little chance of success where crowded streets and houses provided ideal shelter for criminals.
New ideas about policing therefore were tried out in London.
John Fielding and his brother Henry were London Magistrates at Bow Street.
They set up new measures including:
The Bow Street Runners – team of thief-takers who patrolled streets of London in the evening
Civilian horse patrol to stop highway men
Hue and Cry Newspaper to publish info on criminals

4. The situation by
Despite work of Fielding there was still no organised system of preventing crime and no coordination of constables, watchmen and runners
The job of the constable was still part time
There was great opposition to the idea of a police force because people saw it as huge cost, a threat to their privacy and a threat to freedom. They also thought it would not work.