Metropolitan Police Act 1829

The Metropolitan Police Act 1829 (10 Geo. 4. c. 44) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, introduced by Sir Robert Peel, which established the Metropolitan Police. This was to be responsible for policing the newly created Metropolitan Police District, which consisted of the City of Westminster and parts of Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent, within seven miles of Charing Cross, apart from the City of London. It replaced a previously more diverse system of parish constables and watchmen. It is one of the Metropolitan Police Acts 1829 to 1895.^[c]

Metropolitan Police Act 1829^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for improving the Police in and near the Metropolis.
Citation	10 Geo. 4. c. 44
Introduced by	Robert Peel MP (Commons)
Territorial extent	United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent	19 June 1829
Commencement	19 June 1829[b]
Other legislation
Amended by	Statute Law Revision Act 1873 Statute Law Revision Act 1874 Statute Law Revision Act 1878 Statute Law Revision Act 1890 Police Act 1964 Justices of the Peace Act 1968 Administration of Justice Act 1973
Relates to	Statute of Winchester
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The act

The act was the enabling legislation for what is often considered to be the first modern police force, the "bobbies" or "peelers" (after Peel), which later served as the model for modern urban policing throughout Britain. Until the passage of the act, the Statute of Winchester of 1285 was cited as the primary legislation regulating the policing of the country since the Norman Conquest.^[1]

See also

• History of law enforcement in the United Kingdom
• History of the Metropolitan Police
• Peelian principles

Notes

1. The citation of this act by this short title was authorised by section 1 of, and the first schedule to, the Short Titles Act 1896 (59 & 60 Vict. c. 14). Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30).
2. The Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793.
3. The Short Titles Act 1896, section 2(1) and Schedule 2