The Development Of Policing From Pre-Modern To Today

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The purpose of this essay is to show the development of policing from pre-modern to today, and the key factors and people that influence and prompted change. The main feature of the development of modern policing was to promote change within the mindset of officers who viewed themselves as soldiers in a war against crime, instead of guardians appointed to protect society. Policing in the pre-modern era resembled western movies and the Game of Thrones television series. Sir Robert Peel’s 9 principals bill which passed in parliament in 1829 developed clear guidelines for the developing police force. August Vollmer, who was known as the father of modern policing, established a different approach to policing in 1916, which revolutionised criminal investigations. A paradigm shift in concepts post-1970 saw community policing becoming a specialised government salary paid profession with dedicated units concentrating on training, education and integrity management strategies.

Before the 1800s, pre-modern policing resembled western movies with sheriffs, watchman and constables. Kingdoms resembled Game of Thrones modern-day series where policing by sword welding men was the way justice was served. In Australia, pre-nation-states were not formed yet, the government agencies worked with the agents of the courts in policing matters (Davis 2018). Tribes and militias ran their own country with their laws and principles. Law enforcement men were not permitted to carry guns, only a bat and a whistle (Critchley 1967). The police did a wide variety of social services such as soup lines to feed the poor, found lost children, helped immigrants find work and took them to the stations which often housing and employment were found (Kelling & Moore 1988). Before the 19th century policing constables and watchman had no specified training to carry out their police functions and were often volunteers. The early police known as the civil era was formed by night watchman, foot, mounted and water police and police used for gold escort.

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Modern policing in England was led by the London Metropolitan Police, which was formed in 1829 with the direction of Sir Robert Peel from England, Peel introduced a bill which included his 9 recommended principles to follow to parliament; his goal was to create a police force to manage social conflict resulting from industrialisation and urbanisation (Kelling & Moore 1988). From the late 18th century through to the 19th century, Australia police consisted of colonial military marines. Modern policing in the 1840s till early 1900s policing was very political.

This state-based system organised labour and alienation with harsh conditions and corruption (Broome 2003). Native Australian police were used for protection and were used as frontier police. The indigenous Australians were still classed as less important citizens and put in harm’s way first. Cape York peninsula had mounted native police patrol c1909 (Richards 2009).

In the 19th century, police departments were involved in crime prevention, control and keeping order within the community. August Vollmer was known as the father of modern policing; he established a different approach to policing in 1916. Vollmer had a different view that was more scientific based on European research into criminal psychology, which he taught at the University of California in Berkeley. In the military era of policing August Vollmer helped to introduce motorised policing in which officers favoured cars and motorcycles over foot patrols. He also spearheaded the first centralised police record system. August Vollmer helped to revolutionise criminal investigations by popularising the use of lie detector tests (Davis 2018). In the military era, police were weaponised and focused on serious crimes, command and control. Women became police officers in 1915 and soon after, in 1917, the federal police were formed (NSW Police Force 2016). Prime Minister Billy Hughes created the commonwealth police after Queensland police refused to arrest a person who threw an egg at the PM in Warwick in 1917 (AFP 2018). The traditional democratic policing in the nineteenth century came to an end; with the call for an end to political corruption. Various reforms, police organisations were under investigation for allegations of corruption. As a response, police departments began to employ more mid-ranking officers, strengthening their chain of command.

Early in the 20th-century police were seen as enforcers, excessive force was the militarised form of enforcement. Brutality, torture and even murder were seen as part of Police duty in the protection of state (Drew & Prenzler 2015, p. 1). Sheriffs had the power to call out a posse to non-disabled men to assist in capturing suspects (Rawlings 2002). New policing agencies became public and private, which left the door open to corruption and bribes. Complex integrity systems were imploded, which signalled the start of what was to come for the future of policing.

New modern policing became a professional career with multiple roles and structures. Latest models & academic research were implemented, and performance measures were put in place. The progressive democratic policy covers community policing, problem-orientated policing, intelligence-led policing, integrity management and crime prevention.

A paradigm shift in concepts post-1970 saw community policing becoming a specialised government salary paid profession (Reith 1975). Post-1970 in Australia saw pluralisations and reform with technology changes leading the way. The standard police model was male-dominated, tall and robust. Hierarchical and authoritarian, offender focused, mostly self-directed with surveillance leading to enforcement with no limits (Drew & Prenzler, p. 1, 2015). The new public policy followed the legal process, worked with the community focusing on crime prevention and were fully trained through education and integrity management strategies. Policing development became focused on the management of behaviour, persuasion to do the right thing. Crime prevention involved assistance to the general public and negotiation when possible to reduce the risk of escalating the crime being committed. Police also focused on upholding laws, surveillance, interventions through arrests, enforcing laws such as traffic fines and corporal and capital punishment (Reith 1975). Key factors that prompted change were local governments extended financial support; this enabled the development of detective units.

In the 21st century, private and public security services, also called Para-cops, are outnumbering police officers’-in most counties throughout the world (Payam 2010).

New organisations have been formed in the development of policing called Super Cops; such as Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, NSW Crime Commission, WA & QLD Crime & Corruption Commissions, Border Force, ACC Australian Crime commission, ICAC Independent Commissioner against corruption, AIC Australian Institute of Criminology, Australian Institute of Police Management, AUSTRAC, CrimTrac, ANZAPP, AIPM, ASIC to name a few. Police legislation in 2010 now states that female officers have the same affirmative action as male officers (N.S.W Police 2016). Body cameras worn by police make them accountable for every move they make every word they say. In this high-stress career body, the camera’s add extra pressure to conform with what the public preserves as an acceptable force.

It is conclusive that England’s Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel’s 9 general instructions were embodied in modern policing. One of the clear focuses was to change from military force severity to being less physical and finding the balance to maintain public support. Police in the post-1970 era are highly trained professionals. The balance between assisting the community and earning respect is a fine line. While being guardians appointed to protect the community; the mindset training of officers is to fight the war against crime by oppressing criminals, by only using physical force as a last resort. Policing in the 21st century has become highly sophisticated with intellectual divisions of super cops leading the way into the future.

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