Book Description

The Parliamentary Papers in this set document the government role in meeting the needs of society for police protection, investigating the existing conditions and providing the control necessary for reorganization and adminstration of the force. The investigations of Select Committees between 1812 and 1828 (IUP volumes Police 1 to 4) revealed the utter disorder and general shoddiness of the London and Westminster forces but failed to produce revolutionary concepts in the reports. The 1828 committee, however, faced with an enormous increase in the crime rate as a result of rapid urbanization, began to reconsider many accepted ideas. It made specific proposals for reform which were implemented in Peel's Act of 1829. This resulted in Britain's first properly organized police system. Later reports on the metropolitan police forces (1833 and 1834) led to further consolidation and integration and the question of complete centralization of the force was examined and recommended by the 18377F 1338 Select Committee. -- Publisher's catalogue.