Sir Robert Peel’s 9 Principles of Policing

Modern policing has become more complicated and challenging for law enforcement leaders today.  The changing dynamics of crime and disorder, the changing workforce, and the ever-present scrutiny of law enforcement leave many professionals unsure of their path of service.

A look back to 1829 may provide an old solution to our current problems.

In 1829, Sir Robert Peel introduced the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829, which established the first modern-day police force in London known as the Metropolitan Police Department.  Although Sir Robert Peel is credited with developing the “9 Principles of Policing,” there is some evidence to suggest that Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne likely developed these principles. [i]  Both men served as the first and joint Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police force. 

I know what you are thinking.  What?  I can’t believe that.  I thought the same thing.  Still, when I started my research for this article, I found enough questions to support mentioning this discrepancy here. 

I don’t believe the questions about the true author of these principles changes the underlying value of them.

Modern Day Applicability

Although these principles were adopted and used in 1829, their timeless value continues today.  At the time, these principles were considered radical because they were such a 180-degree turn from current practices. 

According to the author, Charles Reith, “it was a philosophy of policing unique in history and throughout the world because it derived not from fear but almost exclusively from public co-operation with the police, induced by them designedly by behavior which secures and maintains for them the approval, respect and affection of the public.” [ii]

Wow!  Doesn’t that sound like something we need today?

I think it does.

Throughout the next nine blog posts, I am going to discuss each principle from a modern-day policing leadership perspective. 

Principle #1

To prevent crime and disorder, as an alternative to their repression by military force and severity of legal punishment. 

At law enforcement’s core is the responsibility to prevent crime.  I think many law enforcement leaders today have lost this concept because of all the noise of policing today.  Instead, the focus is on recruiting and retention of officers, technology, using social media, liability, use of force, public perception of the police, and a myriad of other important issues. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving all of those issues, and many others, the proper attention.  We should do that.  But we can’t forget our underlying responsibility; to prevent crime and disorder. 

Sir Robert Peel warned us that it is not enough to conduct heavy enforcement.  He used the phrase “repression by military force” to make his point.  We can translate that today into an agency using a specialized unit to conduct big enforcement details as their only strategy to fight crime.

It will not work.

The other phrase he used was “severity of legal punishment.”  In other words, law enforcement leaders can’t expect the threat of some severe punishment for a crime keeping people from committing a crime. 

This threat doesn’t work, at least alone.

Law enforcement leaders today must focus on actually preventing crime.  The concept seems simple enough, but what does that look like today?

Here are five modern-day tactics that support the concepts in Sir Robert Peel’s Principle #1.

Talk About Preventing Crime

It is extremely difficult to tackle a problem if you don’t talk about it.  Therefore, budget time during staff meetings, strategic planning sessions, roll calls, and other meetings to talk about and develop plans to prevent crime.

I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “out of sight, out of mind.”  The same is true for “no talk, no action.” 

Law enforcement leaders must be proactive and make focusing on preventing crime a priority for their department. 

Reward Effective Programs

If your goal is to prevent crime, then rewarding the people who develop programs that prevent crime makes sense.  Recognizing the crime-fighting efforts of people should be a priority.  Recognizing and rewarding the outcomes you want to be repeated will encourage staff members to repeat these actions.  Also, you send a clear message to all about what you value as a department and leader.

Use Crime Analysis

Preventing crime today is no easy task.  Few people would argue that it is infinitely more complicated than it was in 1829 when Sir Robert Peel developed this principle.  Yet, the prevention of crime is still just as important.

The Crime Triangle tells us that crime happens when you have an offender, a victim, and a location.  If you can impact one of the sides of this triangle, you can prevent crime.  A good Crime Analyst can provide the data needed to develop comprehensive plans, which will help reduce crime by targeting locations and repeat offenders.

Use Technology

You would think that today’s law enforcement leader would embrace the use of technology.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case.  There are still many leaders who kind of understand the need for it, but they have not bothered to understand the true value technology can bring to a department.

A police officer’s car looks like something out of a futuristic movie, full of technology designed to help the officer do his or her job.  In-car cameras, body-worn cameras, mobile data terminals, and similar technology can help officers respond better to crime and document what happened.

Other technology, like predictive policing algorithms, can help officers respond to and prevent crime before it happens.  Space doesn’t allow for a full discussion of technology here.  Instead, I will focus on the use of License Plate Reader (LPR) technology.  I’m not sure another technology exists that can make a bigger impact on law enforcement’s ability to respond to, investigate, and reduce crime today.

Many departments in Metro Atlanta have partnered with Georgia Power for the installation of surveillance cameras and license plate reader cameras.  These agencies have seen significant improvements in their response to and prevention of crime.  The amazing thing is initiating this program can be done with no up-front costs.

A local company, Flock Safety, has even made license plate reader technology available to neighborhoods and apartment communities at an affordable price.  Law enforcement is then able to access these “private” cameras and receive real-time alerts.

How we use technology today is only limited by our imaginations.

Education is Key

A robust educational program geared toward educating potential victims is a critical piece of the crime prevention puzzle for any department. 

Programs like Lock, Take, Hide, Neighborhood Watch, Citizen Police Academy, R.A.D. System of Self Defense and other similar programs offers opportunities to educate citizens, so they become a force multiplier in our efforts to prevent crime.

Crime prevention programs can make all the difference.

Conclusion

Sir Robert Peel or Commissioners Rowan and Payne, depending on your point of view, provides a clear and convincing statement that helps today’s law enforcement leaders focus on what matters.

Principle #1 also points out the futility and using heavy hande techniques and the threat of severe punishment as an effective crime prevention strategy.

If your department focuses on preventing crime through conversations, recognizing staff who excel in crime prevention, use crime analysis and technology and educate your community, you will surely see a reduction in crime that Sir Robert Peel envisioned back in 1829. 

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[i] http://www.civitas.org.uk/research/crime/facts-comments/principles-of-good-policing/

[ii] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/policing-by-consent/definition-of-policing-by-consent

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