ABSTRACT
It is widely accepted among historians that the concepts and practices of modern American police system were originated from the English heritage. Whereas this may not be the complete picture of all policing influences as this overview frequently bypasses the significant influence of France on the English system directly and the US system indirectly, the overall major influence remains located within the early night watch system and the subsequent Metropolitan Police Act of 1829. In England, beginning around AD 900, ordinary citizens played the role of law enforcement with intent to protect their family members and neighbors from criminals and outlaws (Jones and Johnstone 2011). Ten males over the age of 12 formed a group called tithing, and each tithing was responsible for detecting and apprehending its members in case of a criminal event. In turn, 10 tithings were clustered into a hundred, and a constable appointed by a local nobleman was in charge of directing the hundred (Alpert and Dunham 2010). It is believed that the constable was the first law enforcement official who had greater responsibility than simply aiding one’s fellow citizen. There also existed night watchmen who patrolled the cities and villages at night to detect criminals and fires, and in such cases, they reported to the constable (Abadinsky and Winfree 1992).
