Sir Robert Peels Principles of Policing

Sir Robert Peels Principles of PolicingSir Robert Peels Principles of PolicingAt various times throughout recent history, the public and police forces around the country and around the world have seemed at odds with each other. While many within the law enforcement community are quick to ascribe these tensions to the unfortunate result of an increasingly entitled society, they all too often remain ignorant of- or unwilling to explore- the role of the police force in contributing to the apparent discord between the community and the police who protect them. A Surprisingly Young Profession Some forget, and many do elend even know, that the modern history of the police force as we know it is not a long one, not even 200 years old. The concept of a modern, organized, and uniformed police force welches only first established in 1829 in Londonand didnt make its way across the pond to the U.S. until 1845 when the NYPD was organized. Public Distrust of Police is Not New There was muc h resistance then, as there is now, to the idea of a uniformed, armed, occupying force patrolling the streets of the community. To address that resistance and assure the public of the good intentions and important benefits that a police force can provide, Sir Robert Peel, at the time the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom (and later two-term Prime Minister), published what are now famously known as the Nine Peelian Principles. These principles outline the purpose and the mission of policing and provide admonishments for police forces so that they do not lose sight of why they exist and who they serve. Sir Robert Peels nine principles, paraphrased below, are perhaps more necessary now than ever before, and those within and without the law enforcement community would do well to recall and adhere to them The purpose of the police force is to prevent crime and maintain order.Police depend on the approval and trust of the public in order to effectively do their jobs.The ultimate goal o f policing is to achieve voluntary compliance with the law in the community.Police must be unwavering in their duties and adherence to the law, maintaining impartiality and avoiding the temptation to be swayed by public opinion.Police must recognize that the more cooperation they can achievewithinthe community, theless often they will need to use force to achieve compliance with the law. Police must maintain the public favor and cooperation by providing impartial and independent law enforcement services, as opposed to succumbing and pandering to the whims of the public. They must extend the same courtesy and respect to everyone, regardless of economic or social standing.The use of force and physical control is to be used as a last resort, only when other forms of persuasion have failed.Police officers must remember that they, too, are members of the public and that their purpose is to serve and protect the public. The true measure of the effectiveness of any police force is not the number of arrests or police actions taken, but the absence of criminal conduct and violations of the law. Getting Police Back to Basics The ultimate goal of any officer is to protect the life and property of the public they serve, all while upholding the laws of the land and respecting individual rights. The job is not so complicated as it is sometimes made out to be. Police are called to be guardians, not warriors. When officers are properly oriented toward problem-solving and public service, communities are better served and trust between police and public is preserved. By remembering the principles laid out for law enforcement by Sir Peel not so long ago, it is possible that police forces around the world can begin the healing process communities so desperately need. In this way, we can better keep both the members of the public and our brave brothers and sisters in law enforcement safe so that everyone makes it home at the end of their shift.