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The most notorious thief-taker of all was Jonathan Wild who operated in the early part of the
eighteenth century. He began his career in a small way informing on criminals who were suspected of
crime. Eventually he built up a criminal empire of his own. His speciality was the organization of
robberies and burglaries. He was then paid rewards by the victims for securing the return of their
property.
In 1719 as a direct result of activities of this kind Parliament passed the Second Transportation
Act which laid down that anyone taking a reward for receiving stolen goods, who did not also help to
arrest the thief and give evidence against him, was guilty of a 'felony' (serious
crime which could result
in sentence of death). Eventually, Wild was himself caught and prosecuted.
The first police force to become an organized body of men wearing uniforms and given special
powers was named the Metropolitan Police Force ('The Met'), because it policed the metropolis of
London. This force was created by the Metropolitan Police Act 1829. At that time Sir Robert Peel was
the Home Secretary, and policemen were therefore known as 'Peelers' or 'Bobbies'. The new police
force first went out on duty on 29 September 1829.The force made a poor start. By the end of the year
the most of men had been dismissed because of being drunk on duty.
It is hardly surprising that in the early days of the force public opinion was very much against
it. Newspapers complained bitterly that the police behaved with brutality in their enthusiasm to make
arrests. At the same time the police were blamed for failing to clear up crime.
Nevertheless, the value of an organized police force soon became apparent.
The first plain-
clothes detectives were used to gather information on the activities of gangs of criminals.
The Metropolitan Police force was well organized and disciplined and after the initial period of
public skepticism became the model for other police forces in Great Britain and this police system had
been adopted throughout the world.
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