OCTOBER , 2020
A CASE FOR SCOTLAND YARD By : Liese Sherwood-Fabré
For many around the world , the name “ Scotland Yard ” is synonymous with the whole of British law enforcement . Despite having a more limited scope , the force that once occupied a house in front of Great Scotland Yard represented a major step forward in the professionalization of London ’ s police force .
In 1748 Henry Fielding , a Justice of the Peace in Bow Street , hired six honest , retired parish constables and created the “ Bow Street Runners ” to investigate crimes and arrest suspects . ( 1 ) This salaried detective force was the first of its kind and remains as one of his major accomplishments . The Bow Street Runners were considered so effective , Parliament established seven additional police offices based on Fielding ’ s model in 1792 .
The police system , however , remained quite fragmented until the Act of 1829 consolidated a number of different patrols and forces into a single Metropolitan Police Force for the London area outside the City itself . Robert Peel oversaw the organization of the new entity along with two other commissioners . ( 2 ) The officers came to be known as “ Bobbies ” or “ Peelers ” ( from the commissioner ’ s name ), and their offices were housed at 4 Whitehall Place . The public entrance for the station was actually in the back and opened onto an area called the “ Great Scotland Yard .” Over time , the area and the detective force became synonymous , and even when the force moved out of the building , the name followed them to “ New Scotland Yard . ( 3 )
The “ Scotland ” of “ Scotland Yard ” appears to have its origins prior to the 1500s when an English King provided land to a Scottish King to build lodgings for use when visiting London . “ Hostilities ” between the two prevented any construction , but the land was used as an encampment by Scottish contingencies until the two countries were united under the British monarchy . ( 4 ) The street running to the side of this yard came to be known as “ Great Scotland Yard ,” and was attached to the police force three hundred years later . ( 5 )
The creation of Scotland Yard marked a pivotal shift in British efforts to protect businesses and citizens and developed into one of the most modern and efficient police forces that continues to this day .
( 1 ) J . J . Tobias , Crime and Police in England , 1700-1900 . ( New York : St . Martin ’ s Press , 1979 ), 44 . ( 2 ) Ibid , page 79 ( 3 ) Ibid page 82 ( 4 ) http :// www . british-history . ac . uk / survey-london / vol16 / pt1 / pp194- 196
( 5 ) http :// www . historybytheyard . co . uk / scotland _ yard . htm
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