For my project, I have decided to focus on the London police and how it represents the culture of London. I narrowed my research down to mainly the Metropolitan Police since it is the larger police force and incorportates the Scotland Yard, which I think is a very interesting part of London history. So before I get into the cultural aspects of the London Bobbies, I first want to give a little background on the history of the police in England.
In 1829 the first Metropolitan Police Act was passed and in effect the Metropolitan Police Force was established. Along side the creation of the Metropolitan Police, several smaller police forces were established, but by 1839 all these were absorbed into the Metroopolitan Police except for one. The only remaining force that existed outside of the Metropolitan Police, and still remains today, was the City of London Police.
Cited in countless literary references, the Scotland Yard has become a significant part of London's history and culture. The founders of the New Police, Colonel Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne, used part of thier house as a police station. The building was coined the Scotland Yard since it backed up to a courtyard known as the Great Scotland Yard, and can be found in some of the greatest literary classics, such as the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Scotland Yard moved to Victoria Embankment in 1890 and was named the New Scotland Yard, and later moved to its present location off Broadway.
From the very beginning, the requirements to apply to the Metropolitan Police have been rigid. Memebers of the policeforce are not permited to have tattoos that are in any way offensive to religion or belief, or are in any way descriminatory, violent, or intimidating, regardless of whether the tattoo is visible. Tattoss of any kind are prohibited above the collar, as they are seen as unprofessional. Though it is not required that applicants be born in Britain, applicants must have been a UK resident for three years prior to applying, with the only exception being the British military.
Yet, these requirements seem mild compared to the strict rules the initial police abided by when the police force was first established. The early policemen worked seven days a week and were required to wear thier uniforms at all times. This is due to the fact that civilians were worried that the policemen were spying on them off duty and were looking for ways to get them into trouble. The Men had to be under 35, at least 5 feet 2 inches, physically fit, literate and of good nature. Although many recruits came from the military and had experience with stringent disciplinary, there was an extremely high turnover rate in the early days of the force. There was a high turnover in both dismissals as well as resignations. In fact, the Metropolitan Police was actively trying to weed men out who did not fit their standards. Drunkeness, indiscipline, and dishonesty were all grounds for dismissal. Therefore, only the most commited and competent men were sworn in as Bobbies. With such a selected handful willing to make the sacrifices demanded by the Metropolitan Police, the Bobbie established a respected and proffesional image.
Although the Metropolitan police indeed gained an image of great respect, the public initially rejected the idea of a police force. They felt it was an invasion of their privacy, and feared that the bobbies were looking to get them in trouble. There was such a protest about their concerns that the force required their men to wear their uniforms at all times, even when off duty, to calm the public's fear of police spying on them while off duty. Though the public's reaction may seem a little irrational and dramatic, the people had good reason to be weary of the police forces in London. The individual police stations were rivals and were in constant competition with one another. The rivalry was so well known that criminals would use the jurisdiction boundaries to their advantage. They knew that once they crossed the border into the zone of another police force, the chasing officer would not notify the oppsoing officers since he would not want to help them to make the arrest he pursued. As the story goes, Jack the Ripper was savvy of these unwritten rules and used them to play games with the police. It is said that after committing one of his brutal murders he would leave clues just outside the jurisdiction of that police unit, knowing that the two forces would not want to share evidence and work together. Therefore the representation of the police was not always in the highest regard, and although thier mission was to serve and protect the public from harm, the harsh reality was that their personal motives sometimes fogged that objective.
This leads to the inevitable fact of life that there are disparities between idealogoy and reality. Ideally, we would like to think that our serving police officers are whole-heartedly dedicated to protect us from harm and arrest those who intend to do otherwise. We want to see them as honest individuals who would never compromise thier actions for personal gain. Yet, sadly we do not live in a perfect world. Yet, it seems that as time passed the people of London had a change of heart and began to glorify the honorable bobby. This admiration is shown through many literary references in the late 1800's. One that stands out in particular is the great Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is the beloved London detective who used his wit, intuition, and brilliance to solve murder mysteries and catch criminals. He quickly won over the hearts of Londoners, and helped glorify the image of the police officer. Bobbies were then percieved in a new and more accepting light, which reinforced the idealolgy that policemen are always just and act in accordance with the law.
The narrative of Sherlock Holmes, and other detectives, plays a vital role in the culture of London. Narratives are used to construct reality through stories, and reality fashioned by the heroic Sherlock Holmes was the glorification of the bobby. The character Holmes is a witty, intelligent, and observant detective who has the innate ability to follow the smallest of clues and catch the menace to society. The stories, though maybe unconsciously, create the illusion of policemen and detectives being the "good guys" who always seem to catch the "bad guys". They are working for the good of the citizens and are passionate about making the streets a safer place. Not only are these short stories painting a picture of the admirable policeman, but it is also building a set of moral standards for those reading. The stories suggest that the "bad guys" always get caught and that good always triumphs over evil, warning those who are tempted to indulge in such devious acts. The significance of Holmes in London's society is undeniable, with references to him covering the city. Within the city there is a Sherlock Holmes Pub, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and the popular tourist site at 221 B Baker Street.
Tradition is an important part of the culture of London and is apparent in the Metropolitan Police uniforms. Although the uniform has seen minor changes throughout the years, today's attire is strikingly similar to the original. In a semantic point of view, the uniform of the bobby signifies London's reverence to tradition. The top hats originally used have been replaced with the resembling custodian helmets, and the swallow-tailed coats have been altered into more modern button-up coat. Yet, the first uniforms were designed to create the image of a "respectable gentleman" and resembled a Victorian Englishman. That desire to be seen as proper and honored is still evident in the current uniforms.
The uniforms and cars of the Metropolitan Police also signify importance. The bright colors and designs of the highly recognizable police vehicles are designed for that very purpose: to quickly catch the eye. This is imperative when pursuing a suspect, and there is a need for the people to get out of the way as fast as possible. The neon yellow jackets of the bobby also is designed to capture attention. Usually worn when on foot patrol, the color of the jacket immediately notifies the people that the individual is a police officer, and more importantly someone who is superior. The color yellow in effect symbolizes importance and authority in London.
The Metropolitan Police throughout histroy has also been a reflection of the status of women throughout British history. When the police force was first established only men were allowed to serve. In 1914 the Women Police Service was founded to patrol the streets and help with the problem of prostitution. The WPS was never intended to become apart of the Metropolitan Police and was only thought of as a temporary organization while the men were away at war. Yet, the Women's Movement made way and in 1923 women were first given the power to arrest, followed by many other authorities in the next several years. Despite such improvements, there was still a great deal of descrimination towards women. For instance, women were forced to resign upon becoming married, until the bar was removed in 1946 (only because the men had all gone away to war). It was not until 1974 that women were given equal pay.
This slow progression of equality demonstrates how the English society viewed females as insignificant and of lower status. Evident in literary texts such as Mrs. Dalloway and The Buddah of Subburbia, women of Britain have long been seen as inferior to men. This age old sex distinction still exists in British culture today, although it may not be as obvious. The majority of the police force is still male, since they are regarded as more qualified, competent, and better able to protect London and pursue criminals. In the view of British society, men by nature are stronger than women and therefore have the role of protector. Though women in the police force are given the same authority as men, they are sometimes regarded as weaker and inferior to the more traditional male officer.
In conclusion, the Metropolitan Police give great insight into the complex culture of London. From its history to its uniforms, the police are deeply enrooted in English culture and I thouroughly enjoyed my research. Although visiters are not allowed into the New Scotland Yard without an appointment to see a detective, I had the opportunity to talk with the guard at the front door. She told me there was a lot more about the histroy of the Metropolitan Police on their website, but still was delighted to tell me about the history of the Scotland Yard, how it got its name, and so forth. By talking with her I realized how passionate the people are about the history here in London and are excited to share it with tourists, like me. I learned much more about British culture than I ever imagined by focusing on this project, and hope to learn even more in my last few days here in London.
Sources:
Browne, Douglas Gordon. The Rise of the Scotland Yard: A History of the Metropolitan Police. London: Harrap Publishing, 1956.
Turner, Graeme. British Cultural Studies: An Introduction. London: Unwin Hyman Inc., 2005.
http://www.met.police.uk/. Metropolitan Police Website. 15 July 2009.
Police Woman at the Entrance of the New Scotland Yard
Tour Guide of Jack the Ripper Tour
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