THE GREAT BRITISH 'BOBBY'

We explore a selection of surprising facts about the history of British policing - from Robert Peel to the present day

- PROFESSOR CLIVE EMSLEY

6 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT

1 PROFESSIONAL POLICE INSTITUTIONS EXISTED BEFORE THE VICTORIANS

The date for the beginning of the police in Britain is often given as 1829, when the Metropolitan Police first took to London's streets. But the Scots and Northern Irish can dispute this, pointing to their earlier institutions: the City of Glasgow Police was formally recognized in 1800, while the Irish Constabulary (later superseded in Northern Ireland by the Royal Ulster Constabulary) was founded in 1822.

And, indeed, many other issues about police institutions are also open to debate. Firstly, at least as far as England is concerned, the Metropolitan Police did not replace men like Dogberry and Verges, the comic characters from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing responsible for a group of bumbling watchmen. Nor did they replace doddery old constables who could barely lift their lanterns. Police institutions around the country were already becoming increasingly professional before 1829, and especially during the 18th century. Evidence from the Old Bailey, for example, reveals the presence of a number of courageous watchmen and constables; these were typically former soldiers, under the age of 40, who knew the laws of the land. In some parishes, these watchmen wore numbers painted on the back of their overcoats so that they were identifiable.

2 THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH A METROPOLITAN POLICE FAILED

Traditionally, the assumption has been that the Metropolitan Police was established because of an increase in disorder and crime. This is, however, extremely difficult to prove.