The anonymous article from Punch titled “The Modern Police Man” is an editorial describing the behavior of the ideal police officer. From this piece I can gather that the goal of the police force was to assist the community he was assigned to for his beat. He is expected to serve the people. One passage describes the simple tasks he might do to help stating, “he rings bells the first thing in the morning, runs to fetch the doctor, helps an early coffee-stall to unpack her cups and saucers, pulls down shutters, gives “lights” to young gentlemen staggering home.” Rather than being a presence to instill fear in the population, the modern police force of England was conceived to add a comforting and neighborly presence and in doing so stop crime before it has a chance to occur.
One of the ways he might achieve this is by befriending the working classes. Justice in England until the Victorian period was a pipe-dream for anyone not of the aristocracy whose members served as judge, jury, and counselor. But a regulated police force provided hope to the lower classes. The article says that the perfect officer “is affable to the footman, and smiles to the page, but suspects the butler, and calls the French maid proud.” He makes himself an ally to the lower servants and is wary of those with a higher status, giving wronged workers a chance to stand up for themselves.
More than that, he provided a comfort to the most vulnerable of the population, children. According to the article, “he is meek to lost children, and takes them to the station-house in the most fatherly manner.” The police were not there to harass the youth for simply being young. They were there to offer aid and guidance. More than anything else, a good relationship with the children of the area could result the safety of the community.
Jackson, Lee. “Dictionary of Victorian London – Victorian History – 19th Century London –Social History.” Dictionary of Victorian London – Victorian History – 19th Century London – Social History. Yale University Press, 3 Oct. 2014. Web. 26 Aug. 2015.<http://www.victorianlondon.org/index-2012.htm>
Very interesting! I’m interested to see how the real, and perhaps not-so-ideal, London police officers pale in comparison.
What an interesting concept, “The Modern Police Man” in London’s East End would have a good relationship with individuals and thus foster standards that prevented crime from occurring. The police man’s assigned role as a counselor, confidant, and sage likely aided individuals in making informed life choices. Assuredly, their ability to be a voice of reason, offering aid and direction did promote tranquility in their communities. However, disease, hunger, overcrowded housing and the lack of political representation were issues beyond the local police man’s control and the root causes of crime.
This is a nice post bringing positive light to police officers. It is always nice to hear the good that they do even if it is during the time of Victorian London.
Great article! It’s also important to note that Punch, the magazine that published this piece, is a satirical newspaper. With that in mind, how does it change our opinion of what police officers might have been like in the Victorian period? What’s Punch making fun of? And what do we make of phrases like “He hates the name of Chartist, and cannot ‘abide’ a Frenchman in any shape, any more than a beggar, especially if he has moustaches”? What does the author really think of police officers?