Topic 2:

Historical Development of Policing System in the Worldwide Setting

Instructional Materials:
Power point Presentation
No. of hours
2 hours

Teaching-Learning Activity/Lesson Proper

Historical Development of Policing in the Worldwide and Philippine Setting

The term ‘POLICE’ was derived from the following:

 “POLITEIA” (Greek word) which means Greek word and used to describe the group of
civil officers governing the city and not necessarily the armed men guarding or policing
the city.
 “POLITIA” (Romans) which means civil administration.
 “POLICE” (French) used it to those authorized people who enforce the law.
 “PULIS” - Filipinos further translated the term police in a way for it to be compatible in the
manner they pronounce and spell words (Timpac, 2013).

EVOLUTION OF POLICING IN THE INTERNATIONAL SETTING

A. Anglo Saxon (Ancient England) Period – 600-1066 A.D.

POLICING SYSTEM FORERUNNER/PERSONALITIES CONTRIBUTION/DESCRIPTION
Thanes Policing System King Alfred the Great  A type of internal police
force where landowners
throughout the kingdom
were responsible to police
their own territory.
Landowners were
empowered to:
- arrest offenders and
deliver them to the
King.
- settle civil litigations.
Frankpledge Policing System ‘TYTHINGMEN’  This policing system was
- Every male over carried out under a
twelve (12) years old system of mutual pledge.
joined nine (9) of his  Policing responsibility lies
neighbors to form on the hands of the
TYTHINGMEN. citizens.
- They performed police
works and anyone
who failed to join and
perform this duty was
severely fined.
Tun Policing System  This policing system
required all male residents
to guard the town to
preserve peace and
order, protect the life and
 property of the people
and suppress other factors
affecting peace and
order.
 Tun was the forerunner of
the word “town”.

Hue and Cry Policing System  Complainant or victim will

go to the middle of the
community and shout to
call all male residents to
assemble. Once heard,
male residents will
automatically assemble to
go after the criminal and
apprehend him.
Royal Judge System Royal Judge  It started the identification
- conducts criminal of criminals.
investigation and
gives appropriate
punishment for the
crime committed.

B. Normal Period – 1066-1285

POLICING SYSTEM FORERUNNER/PERSONALITIES CONTRIBUTION/DESCRIPTION

Shire-Reeve System King William Norman  King Norman divided the
kingdom into 55 military
districts known as Shire-
reeves.
Shire – used to refer to a
district.
Reeve – used to refer to
the ruler of the district who
made laws, rendered
judgment, and imposed
penalties.
Court of the Tourn From the Court, 12  It settles a range of cases,
‘TYTHINGMEN’ were selected more often dealing with
to hear serious cases. petty offenses and civil
matters.
Court Leet ‘Master of the House’  The Normans established
- The head of the court the Court Leet which
which was appointed looked after matters of
by the King. purely local interest and
‘Comes Stable’ petty village nuisances.
- also appointed by the
King to be responsible
in keeping peace and
order in a specific
area.
 - under the responsibility
of local officials who
could petition to
remove him if he did
not perform his job
properly.
- Comes Stable
became Constable
which is used to day
to refer to members of
the police force.
Legis Henrie King Henry I  Imposed the following
features:
 Law violations were
classified as offenses
against the King.
 Policemen were
considered as public
officials.
 The police and the citizens
were given the power to
conduct arrest.
 Grand Jury was created
to inquire on the facts of
the law.
Keepers of the Peace King Richard of England  It requires the
(1195). appointment of knights to
keep the King’s peace.

The knights were posted


on bridges and gates to
check the people
entering and leaving the
town or cities.
Magna Carta (Great King John of England on June  became a law upon the
Charter) 15, 1215 demand of the Knights of
the Round Table.
 It declared the following:
 No freemen shall be
taken or imprisoned,
disposed, outlawed, or
bowed except by legal
judgment of his peers.
 No person should be
tried for murder unless
there is proof of the
body of the victim.
 There should be national
and local government as
well as the national and
local legislation.
 C. Westminster Period (1285-1500)

POLICING SYSTEM/STATUTE FORERUNNER/PERSONALITIES CONTRIBUTION/DESCRIPTION

Statute of Winchester (1285)  It was enacted for law
- Watch and Ward and order.
system.
Statute of 1295  It began the closing of the
gates of London during
sunset.
 This started the
observation of the curfew
hours.
Justice of the Peace  This was a position given
to a respected citizen,
who has the power to
arrest, pursue and
imprison offenders.
Star Chamber Court  a special court that tried
offenders against the
state.
 Later on, it became both
a court of law to
determine civil rights and
a court of revenue to
enrich treasury.

Keepers of the Peace King Richard of England  It requires the

(1195). appointment of knights to
keep the King’s peace.
 The knights were posted
on bridges and gates to
check the people
entering and leaving the
town or cities.

D. Modern Period

POLICING SYSTEM/STATUTE FORERUNNER/PERSONALITIES CONTRIBUTION/DESCRIPTION

Night Watchmen or Bellmen King Charles II in 1663  They were employed to
be on duty from sunset to
sunrise.
Bow Street Runners Henry Fielding (1748)  Thief Catchers
- Chief Magistrate of  Later on, he formed the
Bow Street in London. Bow Street Horse Patrol
whose duty was to patrol
the main roads thus
secure the travelers from
highway bandits.
London Metropolitan Police Sir Robert Peel (1829) - the world’s first
- Father of Modern modern organized
Policing police force.
 - later called Scotland
Yard
E. French Police System

FORERUNNER/PERSONALITIES CONTRIBUTION/DESCRIPTION
King Louis XIV (17th Century)  He maintained a small central police
organization consisting of some 40
inspectors who, with the help of numerous
paid informants, supplied the government
with details about the conduct of private
individuals.
Officers de Paix (1791)  It was the origin of the term peace
officers.
Sergent de Ville (Servant of the City)  These were called the first uniformed
police officers.
Other contributions:  Conceiving street signs
 Assigning house numbers
 Installing street lighting
 Creating emergency and rescue services
 Use of police ambulances
 Use of warrant card and ID signifying
authority to arrest.

F. American Police System

1. Rattlewatch
 It was organized in New York, Philadephia, and Boston which was similar to the
night watchmen in London created during the reign of King Charles II.
 They carried rattles while on duty to inform the public of their watchful presence.

2. Municipal Police Force

a. Night watch (1638) – Boston, Massachusetts
b. Rattlewatch (1658) – New York
c. Night watch (1700) – Philadelphia
d. Introduction of police regulation that “No watchman has the liberty to sleep”
(1722) – New Haven, Connecticut
e. It became a government policy that able-bodied males over 16 years old wre
required to serve without pay (1800).
f. Daytime police with pay (1833)
g. Full police New York City

3. State Police Force

a. Texas Rangers (1835)
b. State Constables (1865) – Massachusetts
c. Pennsylvania State Police (1905)

4. Federal Police Force

a. Post Office Inspection System (1829)
b. Investigation on crimes against the government (1861)
c. Detective forces (1868) were formed to investigate problems on revenue
services, immigration and smuggling.
d. In 1934, Federal government attention focused on lotteries, drug regulations, and
transportation guidelines.
 e. Enactment of the Anti-White Slavery Act and Motor Vehicle Act (1910)
f. In 1934, National Kidnapping Act, Banking Act, and Racketeering Act were
passed by the United States Congress.

References:
 Dempsey, J. S., Forst, L. S.(2010). An Introduction to policing. (5th ed.)
Belmont,CA:Thomson/Wadsworth.
 Dempsey, J. S., Forst, L. S.(2008). An Introduction to policing. (4th ed.)
Belmont,CA:Thomson/
 Timpac, T.M. (2012). A handbook on police organization and administration with police
planning. Tarlac City: RMC Publishing Haus.
Additional Readings
 GOVPH. (2020). The Philippine National Police. Retrieved from Official Gazette:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/about-the-pnp/