New Scotland Yard

England is so old and so famous, that looking up anything (such as the origin of the word "bobby") not only turns up many fascinating connections, but often upends basic assumptions (such as the modern police force is barely 200 years old!) And naturally, the first modern police force was established in Britain.

Historically, crime was a private matter, and punishment was usually payment to the victim (or victim's family). Prior to 1800, anyone seeing a "misdeed" was empowered to make an arrest and bring the accused before a magistrate. People became bounty-hunters, catching criminals for a reward. Constables (who originally tended the King's horses--hence the name--but later were responsible for the King's armaments) acted as the "eyes and ears" of the court, finding evidence and recording facts on which judges could make a ruling. Brutal punishment was used as a deterrent to others.

The first professional body responsible for preventing crime was established in Glasgow in 1789, with eight officers. However, they also fought fires and swept the streets. In London, the Thames River Police were established in 1798, with 50 officers, and became the model modern police force. In 1829, the Metropolitan Police Act was introduced by Sir Robert Peel. The terms "bobby" and "peeler" were both used, derogatively, to refer to the new police officers, although over time "bobby" became more prevalent.  (It is hardly used any more.).

To distinguish them from the military, the uniform was blue instead of red, and officers were armed only with a wooden truncheon and a rattle to call for assistance. (This was replaced with a whistle in 1884.) Originally, they wore a top hat which was a sign of respectability and authority, but also made the officer look taller, made them stand out in a crowd, and was strengthened with cane so it could be used as a step when needed to look over walls. (The "Met" was established on September 29, but France had issued a decree on March 12 of the same year establishing a police uniform, so they get to claim the first uniformed policemen in the world.)

They also chose not to use military rank, except for sergeant. The new ranks were:

• Police constable
• Sergeant
• Inspector
• Superintendent
• Commander
• Commissioner

Detective is not a rank, but members of an investigative unit preface their rank (eg Detective Sergeant). Women were allowed into the ranks during WW1; however, their powers were limited compared to men, they weren't allowed to carry handcuffs, and 'Woman' was part of their official title (eg Woman Police Constable). That practice did not end until 1999.

The original headquarters were at 4 Whitehall Place, with a back entrance on Great Scotland Yard. Nobody knows the history of the street name, but it soon became synonymous with the new police force, so much so that when headquarters moved in 1890, they were known as New Scotland Yard. (They moved again in 1967, so I think technically it should be the New New Scotland Yard.)

Among other things, a constable was empowered to apprehend "all loose, idle and disorderly Persons whom he shall find disturbing the public Peace, or whom he shall have just Cause to suspect of any evil Designs, and all Persons whom he shall find between sunset and the Hour of Eight in the Forenoon lying in any Highway, Yard, or other Place, or loitering therein, and not giving a satisfactory Account of themselves." It also made it an offence to assault or resist a police officer, or "harbour a police officer in a public house (pub) during his hours of duty."

Citizens resented the police, claiming they were a threat to civil liberties. (They also had to pay a tax to fund the police force.) Public sentiment was so heated that when the first PC was killed--only 9 months later--kicked in the head while attempting to arrest a drunken man, the jury ruled it "justifiable homicide."

Today, the Met employs 33,258 police officers, 2,988 Special Constables, 14,332 police staff, and 4,520 Police Community Support Officers, making it the second largest in the world after the NYPD. The Met covers all of Greater London except, ironically, the City of London! This is the square mile that was the original Roman walled city, and for historical reasons they have always maintained a separate police force. (The lack of cooperation between the two is legendary, and looms large in the story of Jack the Ripper.)

The Met has incorporated the Thames River Police, as well as the Royal Parks Constabulary, and has certain national functions such as counter terrorism and protecting the royal family and government ministers. The Ministry of Defense and the British Transport Police also maintain their own force, which operate in London.  And oddly, Kew Gardens has its own police force, although they only have authority within the gardens.

And finally, "cop" is thought to be an acronym for "constable on patrol," but it is actually a real word that means "to seize or take." Cop first became a synonym for "arrest" and then slang for a police officer. Remember that the next time you cop an attitude, a plea, or a feel.