The Police Act 1856 made the existence of an adequate force compulsory throughout England and Wales, whilst in Scotland the Police Act 1857 and the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 pro vided and regulated a satisfactory and sufficient police force throughout its counties and burghs.
The Criminal Investigation Department, now one of the most active and efficient branches of the police executive came into existence of ter the establishment of the present system. It is in direct descent. from the old "Bow Street runners" who upon special requisition in the case of serious crime, varied their customary duties at the Bow Street Police Office (as it was then called) by acting as detective officers, either in London or the provinces. The first "detectives" appointed in the new department numbered only three inspectors and nine sergeants to whom, however, six constables were shortly added as "auxiliaries"; this number was subsequently enlarged as the manifold advantages of the system became more and more obvious. The system now attracts candi dates of superior capacity and education.
The latest statistics (Dec. 31, show the strength of the metropolitan police to be 19,405, including the Criminal Investi gation Department and the Thames (river) Police. The establish ment of women police in the metropolitan district comprises (in addition) i superintendent, 3 inspectors, 7 sergeants and 45 con stables; there were also 16,156 special constables attached to the Reserve on Aug. 31, 1934. The city of London has its own police establishment (about 1,200) under a commissioner and as sistant commissioner ; its functions extend over an area of 677 stat ute acres containing two courts of summary jurisdiction, those of the Guildhall and Mansion House, where the lord mayor and aldermen are the magistrates.
The total strength of the regular police force in England and Wales at the date of the latest available report is 58,303, not including 142 attested and 19 non-attested police women.
In 1931 Lord Trenchard succeeded Lord Byng as Chief Com missioner of the Metropolitan Police, and at once initiated certain reforms, the chief outcome of which was the new Police College at Hendon, opened in May 1934 as the basis of a new system of recruitment to the higher posts in the force. Another innovation was the recruitment of about 3o% of the constables for a term of io years only, instead of 25 years or more.
The total strength of the police at the last available date (1924) was 14,083 officers and 182,099 men. All are in uniform, drilled and trained in the use of firearms and may be called upon to perform quasi military duties. Many of the superior and nearly all of the inferior officers and men are Hindus. In Bombay they are chiefly Muslims.
The actual organization of the police force is not specifically dealt with by the Indian Penal Code, although it contains many provisions essential to efficiency and confers legal powers on the executive not only to take evidence but also to compel the at tendance of witnesses. (W. W. P.) Police organization in the United States had its origin in colonial days. The office of constable, invested with the powers and duties prescribed by the English common law, was established by the inhabitants of townships in the several Colonies. To this day the office of constable remains in rural localities and in many cities. His duties in 1929, however, are largely limited to the service of civil court processes. The first step in evolution from constable to modern police system came in colonial times with the establishment of night watches in the larger cities as a sup plementary force and under supervision of constables. In New York the first police arrangements were set up in 1658 by the Dutch colonists, who maintained watchmen under the control of the local burgomaster. When New York passed to English con trol, a watchmen's organization under the command of a high constable assisted by subconstables was established.
The province of Massachusetts by legislation passed in 1699 provided that, in places where no military watch was in existence, the elected justices of the peace, acting in concert with the select men of a town, could order the establishment of a suitable watch which would keep the peace from nine o'clock in the evening until sunrise of the next day and designate the places where such watch should be stationed. Provision was also made for a "ward" on Sunday and weekdays. All able-bodied male citizens above the age of 16 years and having certain property qualifications were made liable to keep watch and ward, the watch being night service and the ward day service, upon designation by the local governmental officers. At first no compensation was attached to the office of watch and ward, but later the way was opened for a paid force of regular watchmen. The night watch scheme spread throughout the larger cities of the Atlantic seaboard, and by 1800 had become well established.