Perhaps the first indication of a modern-day police service in England was first seen in 1749. Created by magistrate Henry Fielding, ‘The Bow Street Runners’. Formed initially of six men and working from no 4 Bow Street, (Bow Street Magistrates Office). The primary reason for their formation was to help prevent the growing issues of corruption, wrongful or malicious arrest within the current policing establishments. Although they did not patrol, the Bow Street Runners, acted as advocates to the magistrates and travelled the length and breadth of the country to locate and either serve writs or arrest offenders on the authority of the magistrates’ court. Over the next 80-90 years the Bow Street Runners will adapt and form the basis of the police service which we now know today.

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