Key Events That Involved British Police From 1829 Essay

Key changes or developments in policing between 1829 and 2010, and link these to the circumstances, events and wider policy issues that led to these changes.
Over time from the very early days when the first police officers were commissioned in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel, there have been some key events that have changed the way in which our society has been shaped by. Some of these events included the riots that occurred in Brixton in 1981, the brutal and racial motivated murder of Steven Lawrence in 1993, the year long miners strike in March 1984, the way in which 96 liverpool fans were crushed to death at Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield in 1989 and also one of the biggest factors with the police developing was when they were actually first commissioned in 1829.

March 12th 1829 – Sir Robert Peel helps pass the Metropolitan police act.
When Robert peel was the home secretary to the then Lord Liverpool’s conservative cabinet, the metropolitan police act 1829 was brought in, in order to provide permanently appointed constables to protect the capital. Before this act was brought in the way in which the country was policed was totally different, the way in which towns and cities were policed were by elected men by the community, and this would be unpaid and was taken in turns.

April 11th to April 14th 1981 – Brixton riots took place, led to the Phillips and Scarman reports, and also the basic foundation to Police And Criminal Evidence act (PACE 1984)
The Brixton riots occurred when tensions erupted between the black community of Brixton, and the police, this was apparently as a result of what was unconfirmed rumours of police brutality against a young black man. After the 3 days of constant rioting, calm was eventually restored, and the Scarman report was published on the 25th November 1981 and caused all sorts of reactions.   According to Benyon, J (1984), He states, “The reception was generally favourable, although to describe it as ‘a wave of...