8 Why 1829?
'Why 1829?' is a key question asked by historians of London's police. Why was
Robert Peel successful in establishing a centralized, uniformed police force in
1829 when he and others had failed before?^1 Th answer this, we must look at
two separate, although related questions. First, why did the 1828 Select Com-
mittee on the Police of the Metropolis recommend centralization when it had
been rejected before? Secondly, why did the legislation that embodied the
Select Committee's recommendations pass with so little opposition? Th answer
the former, this chapter will examine five aspects of police reform in the 1820s.
First, professionalization was so common by this period that the debate about
policing no longer concerned amateur versus professional. Instead, the prob-
lem was to make professional police forces efficient. This, in tum, highlighted
problems of regional diversity and made centralization a logical remedy for
better prevention and detection of crime. Second,. the scandals that plagued
the police forces under the authority of the police magistrates led to increasing
calls for their reform as well as for parochial police reform.
Third, local watch officials were becoming convinced that centralization
was desirable. They felt that their police had been improved to a consider-
able extent but crime continued apparently to increase. Rate-conscious
vestries and demoralized watch committees were willing to be convinced
that centralization would provide more cost-effective policing. The testimony
of some watch officials reveal men who, tired of the difficult, often thankless
task of administering the night watch, were not averse to sharing their
burden with the central government. Fourth, the Metropolitan Roads
Commission, created in 1826, consolidated all metropolitan turnpike trusts
north of the river Thames, and took on the authority to appoint watchmen. It
was chaired by Lord Lowther, friend of Robert Peel and supporter of
centralization. The 'Ihlst made significant cuts in the number of watchmen
on the roads, particularly in outlying parishes, where the turnpike watchmen
were often the only night watch. Complaints to the 'Ihlst failed to restore the
watchmen; parish officials looked to the central government for help. That
these pleas fell on the ears of Robert Peel is the fifth and last reason
centralized policing succeeded in the late 1820s and not earlier. The leader-
ship of Robert Peel was crucial. He embarked on his first enquiry in 1822
with little preparation or experience and accomplished little. By 1828, how-
ever, Peel had had ample time to study the options, learn the political
landscape, and plan his strategy accordingly, with strikingly different results.
Peel's political skill also helps explain why the Metropolitan Police Act
passed in May 1829 so smoothly, helping to answer our second key question.
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