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Historical Perspectives on Policing and Technological Change: A Comprehensive Overview

This talk examines the evolution of policing from its origins to modern technological influences. It explores the historical context of new police formations, theoretical frameworks by thinkers like Max Weber and Michel Foucault, and the shift from parish constables to disciplined forces. Key technological advancements in telecommunications, control rooms, and information management, including the Police National Computer, are discussed. The implications for public interaction and the functioning of police in contemporary society are also considered, highlighting the tension between technology and community engagement.

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Historical Perspectives on Policing and Technological Change: A Comprehensive Overview

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Presentation Transcript

  1. 'Historical Perspectives: Policing and Technological Change'.

  2. Overview of talk • What we know • Some theory • New police • Rules and books • Telecoms • Control Rooms • Computers

  3. What we know already* • Origins of new police • Who the police were • History of institutional structures • Who was in charge *pretty much

  4. Some theory and inspiration • Max Weber – bureaucracy • Michel Foucault – disciplinary society • JoAnn Yates Control Through Communication: The rise of system in American management(1989) • Jon Agar The Government Machine: A revolutionary history of the computer(2002) • John James The Paladins: The story of the RAF up to the outbreak of World War II(1990)

  5. Old to new policing • C. 1775 -> 1850 • Not ‘professionalisation’ but ‘proletarianisation’. • (‘old’) Parish Constables • independent, controlled by warning and incentives • New Police • Uniformed • Under orders • Effects on public: arrival of a disciplined force

  6. Foucault was right* *about this

  7. Rules and books • Interlocking cross-referenced books • Regular reports over whole hierarchy • Notebook as a focus for controlling the constable • Filters: forms are internal - books are gatekeepers “Integrity, sobriety, intelligence, a systematic correctness in business, civility and humanity, are the leading qualifications of a good Police Officer” The Orders and Instructions to be observed by the officers of the Manchester Police (1836)

  8. Landlines, 1848-1934 • ‘Leading sector’ – 1848 Chartist mobilisation • Telegraph: written record • Telephones • High-level conferences • Inter-institutional traffic • ‘Showing the flag’ • Box systems: supervision • 1934 survey: national traffic ‘net work’

  9. Control rooms • Military heritage: London Air Defence Area 1917 • ‘Police science’ • Area wireless • 1934: Whitehall 1212 • Information Room • Effects on public • Fast response • HMIC report 1938: “[shifting] the original basis of our police organisation more in the direction of that of a fire brigade”

  10. Police National Computer • 1958-1975: Home Office / Metropolitan Police Joint Automatic Data Processing Unit • Centralisation of information in real time • London location • US equipment purchased • Includes: Criminal Name index • Includes: Car registration numbers • Excludes: Modus Operandi

  11. Broad conclusions • National security drives some interventions • Limited role of private sector: no ‘security industrial complex’ • Filters the key to useful information systems • Alarms info overload Met 1970: 17k calls, 96% false, 0.5% -> arrest • Technology frees police from community engagement?

  12. Chris A. Williams History Department chris.williams@open.ac.uk

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