Policing Suspicion: Proactive Policing in London, 1780-1850

Policing Suspicion explores the impact of proactive policing on patterns of arrest and prosecution in London from 1780-1850, highlighting the discretion of individual police officers and the prevalence of criminal stereotypes. It is situated within criminological frameworks and offers an original approach to research in the history of crime and policing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 182 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Policing Suspicion is a groundbreaking exploration of policing practices and their profound effects on patterns of arrest and prosecution in London from 1780 to 1850. This comprehensive work establishes and defines the concept of proactive policing within the historical context, where police officers exercised their discretion to arrest individuals suspected of recent or imminent criminal offenses. By meticulously examining a wealth of primary sources, including the Old Bailey Proceedings, newspaper reports, police instructions, archival records of policing practices, and Select Committee reports, the book delves into the motivations behind arrests and the characteristics of those apprehended. It suggests that individual police officers actively made choices based on their discretion, highlighting how policing practices shaped the recorded history of criminal activity. Furthermore, the book explores the continuities and changes in policing practices before and after the establishment of the Metropolitan Police force in 1829, examining the expectations placed on the various officials responsible for law enforcement.

The book argues that policing practices, along with proactive officers, played a significant role in perpetuating criminal stereotypes. Beyond its historical significance, Policing Suspicion is situated within criminological frameworks that focus on policing and preventive justice. It draws parallels between historical policing based on suspicion and contemporary police powers such as stop-and-search. By examining the interactions between the police and suspects and reflecting on police decision-making processes, the book offers an original approach to researchers interested in the history of crime, policing, criminology, and criminal justice more broadly.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367547967