McCormack, M. (2010) Supporting the civil power: policing, soldiering and citizenship in 1780's England. Invited Presentation presented to: War and British Culture, National Army Museum, London, 06 July 2010. (Unpublished)
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Invited Presentation) |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Britain prides itself on its civil tradition of policing: the British police constable is supposed to embody the civil qualities of restraint, respect and public service – in implied contrast with the more martial masculinity of the continental gendarme (literally, ‘man of arms’). In the century that preceded the introduction of a professional police force, however, the military were routinely involved in maintaining public order. During the Gordon Riots of 1780, for example, the regular army, nine militia battalions and regiments of volunteers such as the Honourable Artillery Company were deployed in London to quell an anti-Catholic mob. This chapter will focus upon the role of militias and volunteers in this episode, as it occasioned much subsequent debate that went to the heart of the issue of how citizens should maintain law and order. In an age when the standing army was distrusted as a threat to liberty, the part-time civilian soldier was in theory both safer and more zealous, as he was motivated by the ‘natural’ masculine desire to protect his family and community. As writers such as Sir William Blizard and Sir Bernard Turner argued in the 1780s, this manly ideal coincided with that of the constable, a substantial citizen whose property ensured his independence and vigilance: the militia should thus be involved systematically in activities such as the watch. This paper therefore explores the ideal of the masculine citizen-soldier in the theory and practice of British policing, at a crucial juncture in its development |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Policing, riot control, army, citizenship |
| Subjects: |
J Political Science > JN Political institutions and public administration (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain > JN906 Citizenship D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > DA40 Political, military, naval, and Air Force history H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV7551 Police. Detectives. Constabulary > HV8130 By region or country > HV8195 Great Britain D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > DA505 George III, 1760-1820 |
| Creators: | McCormack, Matthew |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > History University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016) Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > History |
| Date: | 6 July 2010 |
| Date Type: | Presentation |
| Event Title: | War and British Culture |
| Event Dates: | 06 July 2010 |
| Event Location: | National Army Museum, London |
| Event Type: | Other |
| Language: | English |
| Status: | Unpublished |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/2616 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit Item |
Altmetric
Altmetric
Altmetric