Historical Police 'Peeler' , Painted, C401

The formation of the new police force was not immediately welcomed by all Londoners. Experience of police forces on the Continent, especially Napoleon's dreaded security police whose function was mainly political, had engendered a fear of Government interference in the lives of the private citizen. Peel went to great lengths to allay these fears. The first Commissioners of the new force were an Irish judge ( Sir Richard Mayne ) and a British Army Officer ( Colonel Charles Rowan ) and to ensure that the policemen bore no resemblance to a military force their uniform was blue comprising a frock coat, thick trousers, black boots and a top hat; but the hat had a metal frame inside to protect the wearer's head if attacked. Policemen patrolled the streets on foot and soon became well known and trusted in their areas. They were unarmed, as they are today, apart from a wooden truncheon and a rattle ( later replaced by a whistle ) to attract attention. As would be expected they soon received nicknames reflecting the name of their founder, Robert Peel; 'Peelers' in Ireland and ' Bobbies ' in Britain. The famous Bullseye Pattern Oil Lantern, carried by all policemen at night, came into common use in 1840 and was immortalised in the Sherlock Holmes novels

The example of the London Metropolitan Police was quickly followed in all the major towns and cities throughout Britain. Police come under the control, except in London, of local authorities and although there have been major changes in uniforms and equipment the original intention of Sir Robert Peel to create a force trusted by the populace to maintain law and order still prevails.

The figure shows a ' Peeler ' as he would be dressed in 1864.