Sir_Robert_Peel

Sir Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel: Early Roots of Policing University of Phoenix Sir Robert Peel: Early Roots of Policing In researching Sir Robert Peel’s position on policing to the diverse needs of modern day population, it was discovered that police departments currently use the nine principles that Peel established in 1829. These principles are used as a basis for the police to prevent crime and also to maintain a positive relationship with the community. This paper will attempt to show how Peel’s policing and principles are being used in modern times and show his position on policing. In 1829 Sir Robert Peel created the Metropolitan Police while serving as Secretary of England. Peel stated “The key to policing is that the police are the people and that the people are the police” (Law Enforcement: Robert Peels Concept, 1829). Community policing is based on Peel’s concept of prevention and has been embraced by many law enforcement organizations across the country (www.associatedcontent.com). Community policing requires an investment in training with special attention to problem analysis and problem solving, facilitation, community organization and other various specialized training (www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com). The evolution of modern day policing has had many failed attempts and false starts since the early nineteenth century. While Peel’s principles represent an idealized vision of police activity, they have been known to serve as a stepping stone for modern law enforcement and criminologists. The concept of community policing can be attributed to Sir Robert Peel in the sense that his Principles have formed the core values of community interactions (www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com). Peel established the police, also known as “bobbies” or territorial police forces. The introduction of “beats” was performed by bobbies as a form of patrolling. Law enforcement agencies still have police patrolling the streets with the goal of preventing crime and making neighborhoods safe (www.associatedcontent.com). James Q. Wilson and George Kelling wrote “There is a call for a return to the nineteenth century style of policing in which police maintained a presence in the community by walking beats, getting to know citizens and establishing the feeling of public safety and trust”(Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety, Siegel, 4th edition 1982). Wilson and Kelling asked police administrators to get their officers out of depersonalized patrol cars and play an active role in the community by identifying the neighborhoods’ problems and needs and to set a course of action for an effective response (www.associatedcontent.com). Sir Robert Peel’s principles and community policing share the same concepts and goals in policing. One of the distinct similarities between Peel’s approach and community policing is that prevention of crime is the number one priority within our society. It bases the theory that crime prevention is a responsibility that the community and police should share ownership (associatedcontent.com). Team policing and community policing is rooted in the belief that the traditional officer will bring the police and the public closer together but at the same time maintain the professional model (www.lectlaw.com). When the police are dealing with the various communities and cultures, there need to be a mutual feeling between the two. The mutual feeling can be classified as a sense of security and trust within each other. It was stated by Peel that having the public’s approval and cooperation are the basis for five of his principles of effective policing. “The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions and they must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to maintain respect for the public. In our diverse society, police must understand the different cultures that make up the communities that they patrol (Law Enforcement: Robert Peels Concept, 1829). When a community has little or no respect towards the police, they are most likely going to ignore the request or demands of the officers and lead officers into having to use excessive force in order to gain control of the situation (www.associatedcontent.com). An example of this would be the L.A. riots that took place back in 1992, when four police officers were acquitted for the beating of Rodney King. This upset the public and therefore caused the riots. It had gotten so bad that police officers had to put on S.W.A.T gear and try to get control of the angry crowd. It was found that nearly 2,000 people were injured and 53 were killed. The police department must examine the mistakes being made in community policing to ensure that these mistakes are not made again. A mistake that can cause problems with community policing would be budget cuts within the department. Some officers often take side jobs to compensate for their salary cuts and in turn can lead to a good cop going bad. Society depends on officers to make the streets and neighborhoods a safer place to live but with cutbacks providing that protection could be difficult. Society can not afford to be unprotected with everything that is going on in today’s world. In Arkansas alone, the crime rate is rising, especially in areas such as Little Rock and Pine Bluff. In Pine Bluff, we have a shortage in police officers, they are overworked, under paid and having to work two to three jobs to provide for themselves. Due to these conditions, the crimes in Pine Bluff have become extremely high because of the lack of necessities needed to survive in today’s economic crisis. Sir Robert Peel’s principles of policing have helped modern day policing by gaining the public’s trust to feel comfortable enough to call local law enforcement when help is needed. Community policing has been a main focus in law enforcement because of the crime rate within the various communities. With the community and the police officers working together, crime rates would decrease and the streets would be safer. Sir Robert Peel established that police and the community are equal in terms of effective policing. Without the police and the public working together, society would have a difficult time trying to survive. References Wilson & Kelling, (1982). Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety. Siegel 4th edition. www.associatedcontent.com/article/435980/law.com www.lectlaw.com/files/cjs07.htm www.newwestpolice.org/rpeel.html