Were there policemen in 1600's england?

Question

i.e a police force of sorts or some kind of law enforcement.

And,if so,how were these people chosen?

Answer 1

I found some information about the rural version of the time.

The PARISH CONSTABLE, the Precursor of today's " SPECIAL "
It is impossible to pinpoint with any accuracy the commencement of the era of the Constable or Parish Constable. The word 'Constable' is of Norman origin, coming from the Latin 'Comes Stabuli' meaning Count of the Stables or Master of the Horse. Where the Anglo-Saxons used the term 'Tithingman' or 'Head Borough', the Normans would use the word 'Constable' and the names gradually became interchangeable. In the end the Tithingmen, who kept the peace, was called a Constable. He acted for his parish and a place was not regarded as a parish unless it had a Constable.


A Parish Constable in Elizabethan / Jacobean times
The Constables became the hands and eyes of the Justices. They supervised the watchmen, enquired into offences, served summonses, executed warrants, organised the 'Hue and Cry', took charge of prisoners and prosecuted them, in general, obeyed the orders of the Justices.
They were appointed to their office by the Courts Leet or Manorial Courts, but they were sworn in by the Justices and acted under their direction. Thus we find the Tithing and its freemen, bound by oath to maintain order, gradually disappearing and being replaced by the system of the Justice and the Parish Constable.

The Hue and Cry still existed as the method of pursuit of offenders and localities were still liable to be fined if they did not catch and prosecute their criminals.
The Parish Constable was appointed by the parish and the records of his office and duties would be kept in the Parish Chest.

Like the 'Special' of today, the Parish Constable was unpaid, apart from small allowances, with his duties extraneous to his normal work. He was answerable to the Chief Constable of the Hundred. Failure to effect their duties resulted in their appearance before the Justices. Irregularities were obviously abounding and as a result regulations were drawn up by the Justices [Bucks. County] in January 1712/13 - for redressing and preventing the many civil practices and abuses "which have been committed by the Chief Constable, the petty constable and by their agents" in and about the relieving and passing of vagrants through the County.

An insight into the various situations the Parish Constable encountered can be found in the transcribed Bucks. Sessions Records, held at Milton Keynes Reference Library. They include - reporting to the Sessional Court instances of refusing to keep watch; for refusing to execute a warrant; indictment for a pound breach and taking cattle distrained out of the common pound; instance of a conviction for swearing [52 oaths]; arranging the horses and carriages for soldiers baggage belonging to a troop of dragoons; the offence of erecting a building without four acres of land; failure to repair the highway; the keeper of the County gaol for allowing prisoners to escape; and for using scurrilous language and calling one a rogue.

Towards the end of the 17th century, the above records reveal an enormous number of persons reported to the sessional Court by the Parish Constable for failure to attend church. Here an absence of four weeks would result in a twenty pound fine and double pro-rata. An ordinary labourer could only earn eight pounds per annum, thus the houses of Correction - the Bridewells - would have been overflowing.

Answer 2

SIR ROBERT "BOBBY" PEEL (1788 - 1850)

In Britain today all policemen are commonly referred to as ‘Bobbies’! Originally though, they were known as ‘Peelers’ as they were the creation of one Sir Robert Peel.

The Peelers were the Metropolitan Police Force, which Sir Robert founded when he was Home Secretary in Lord Liverpool’s Tory Cabinet. Today it is hard to believe that Britain in the early 1800’s did not have a professional Police Force and that one had to be created.

Sir Robert Peel had already established the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1812, and it had proved to be a great success. It became obvious that something similar to the Irish force was needed in London, so in 1829 the Metropolitan Police Act was passed which provided permanently appointed and paid Constables.

Answer 3

There was no 'official' Police service in the UK until 1829 when Sir Robert Peel, the then Home Secretary formed the present Police Service. Before then, you had Parish Constables. A local man was elected to keep the peace but as all men were supposed to take their turn, it ended up with the local drunk usually doing it for payment from the person who was supposed to do it. There was a River Police on the Thames in London many years before the 'official police' to prevent thefts and piracy on the river.................

Answer 4

No. The first proper police force were the Metropolitan Police formed in 1829 known as the 'Peelers' - named after the then Home Secretary Robert Peel.

Answer 5

Sir Robert Peel, s tarted the earliest "police force" in England. He lived between 1788 and 1850, I believe. The men he conscripted as "law enforcement officers" became known as "Bobbies" because of course they were part of "Bobby" Peel's force. They were also often called "Peelers" It is a long, interesting story and I am sure if you go to your favorite Search Engine and type in Sir Robert Peel (he was eventually knighted by the reigning monarch for his work) you will be able to read the full history..

Answer 6

Firts of all police forces have quite some departments for quite some roles. CID will inspect the shootings that you communicate about. for each capturing there'll be thousands of minor crimes. If human beings whinge about those minor crimes the police are obliged to inspect and take care of them. officials on the beat will take care of the final public of minor crimes. not too many years in the past the authorities presented NCRS (nationwide Crime Recording criteria), which became allegedly presented to furnish an precise photo of what crime became being dedicated. They needed officials to list all crimes, even if there became a grievance or not. earlier any crimes the position there became no grievance became recorded as some lines contained in the officials laptop..... something to the end result that they didn't want to whinge, followed by technique of a signature. The officer became then loose to visit different jobs or patrol. Now officials ought to inspect those offences, inclusive of interviewing the suspect and filling out crime comments. This obviously takes a lot longer than some lines in a laptop. Multiply this by technique of various in line with day and the officer is tied up dealing with jobs that are not in any respect destined to go more effective than being a paper workout. enable me also enlighten you that many drug sellers have get correct of entry to to firearms. those you spot (drugged up) might want to be the bottom of low contained in the size of issues. Many sellers do not even contact the stuff.

Answer 7

The police force or 'Peelers' as they were first called didn't come into being until 1829. Before that time and from around 1361 Justices of the Piece were appointed by the crown. These were assisted by constables appointed by themselves.

Answer 8

No, policemen didn't come along until the 19th century. They're called bobbies after the prime minister, Robert Peel, who started the police force.

Answer 9

"Law enforcement" in Tudor England was usually the local squire, Baron or Lord. The law, as it was, was based around the very simple christian "Ten Commandments". Law breakers were dealt with harshly and swiftly. There were no "no win no fee" lawyers, no appeal system through umpteen courts, and if you did talk yourself out of being lynched, you left the area for your own good.

Answer 10

not really no....law and order were supervised by local officers like Sheriffs..it was not until the 18th century that any kind of organized form of policing began with the Bow Street Runners