February 5
BOBBIE DAY
London’s finest, known as Bobbies, were named after Robert Peel, who was born on this day in 1788, in Lancashire, England.
Robert aka Bobbie Peel was an English statesman who first established the Irish constabulary. The people commonly called this police organization ‘Peelers’ after Mr. Peel.
Then, when Robert Peel became Home Secretary of England, he reorganized the London police. It was 1829 and London’s populace had grown to the point that it needed an organized police force to question travelers after dark, hold all suspicious persons and quell any disturbances. (There were already special police to guard docks and markets and to serve notices and warrants.) Peel organized a paid and trained force for day and night duty called the Metropolitan Police of London. Once again, the people nicknamed the police after Peel.
They have been referred to as Bobbies ever since.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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