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Policing Provincial England, 1829-1856: The Politics of Reform
Policing Provincial England 18291856 The Politics of Reform Author:David Philips, Robert D. Storch One of the most profound social changes of the nineteenth century was the transition to a policed society. England had traditionally relied on the parish constable, an amateur rooted in the local community. Within a few crucial decades, professional police forces appeared, first in cities and then in the most rural corners of the country. The... more » London Police have been well studied, but the origins of policing in England at large have remained obscure. Policing Provincial England examines the old constabulary before its marginalization; how, when and why the policing of the countryside was transformed; the pressures favouring these changes; the forces of resistance; the political context of important legislation; the implantation of the new police; and the relationship of police reform to wider political debates over the future of national and local government. It provides insights into issues that still command attention: the proper role of the police, and their effect on civil liberties and the maintenance of order.« less