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Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850)
was a fascinating individual and is generally recognized as the founder
of modern policing. Certainly his philosophy contributes significantly to crime
prevention and to modern problem-oriented policing.
His nine principles are listed below.
1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to
prevent crime and disorder.
2. The ability of the police to perform their duties
is dependent upon public approval of police actions.
3. Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in
voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the
respect of the public.
4. The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured
diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical
force.
5. Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public
opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to
the law.
6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure
observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of
persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.
7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public
that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the
public and the public are the police; the police being only members of
the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are
incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and
existence.
8. Police should always direct their action strictly towards their
functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder,
not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
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