The Making of a Policeman
A Social History of a Labour Force in Metropolitan London, 1829-1914
1st Edition
Published on 20. December 2023
Book
Hardback
978-1-138-72775-5 (ISBN)
Description
This title was first published in 2002. The Making of a Policeman traces the process of consolidation of the Metropolitan Police of London from the establishment of the force in 1829 to the First World War. Not only was this the largest force in the country, policing the biggest city in Europe and the hub of an expanding empire, it was also one of the largest work organisations of any kind. It is from this new perspective of the history of work, that this book analyses the Metropolitan Police as a labour force. It provides a unique view of an institution that had a profound impact on numerous areas of British life. The Metropolitan Police represented a distinct pattern of employment within the changing world of work in Victorian and Edwardian Britain. Adopting long-term strategies for the recruitment of workers and their conditions of service, the force was a precursor for many future employment policies.
Reviews / Votes
'...an extremely apposite and useful work, which will certainly find a receptive readership.' The London Journal '... an excellent analysis...' International Review of Social History '... adds considerably to our understanding of London's police... The book succeeds on two levels: first, identifying trends among the men in areas like recruitment, promotion, punishment, and pensions; second, exploring the police institution's philosophy and patterns of management. To do both well - weaving statistical with sociological and political analysis - is a major accomplishment of the book.' Albion '... perceptive and diligently researched... sheds new light not only on the Metropolitan Police... but also on the history of modern employment strategies and their impact on the working classes.' Victorian Studies 'Shpayer-Makov's 'social history of a labour force' is a thoughtful, innovative, thoroughly-researched approach to a subject most of us thought very familiar. A review can not do justice to her awareness of nuance and complexity: she is careful to qualify generalizations. This book will appeal primarily to academics, because it is written in a dry social-science style, but is a valuable study which greatly expands our knowledge of a quintessentially English institution.' Crime, Histoire et SocietesMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
ISBN-13
978-1-138-72775-5 (9781138727755)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Contents: Introduction: Creating a Portrait of a Policeman: Personal motives and formal selection criteria; Informal selection preferences and the response of labour: augmenting the portrait; Job stability vs. mobility: rounding out the portrait; Control and Accommodation: Socialization, bureaucracy and everyday life in the force; The paternalist contract: labour-management reciprocity; Patterns of promotion; Recreation and control; Conflict and negotiation: industrial relations without unionization; Bibliography; Index.