Centro Colegio de Tarlac

College of Criminal Justice Education

Metro Bamban, Anupul Subd., Anupul, Bamban, Tarlac
Tel. No. (45) 493- 0145 Email: centro.colegio@gmail.com

Course Subject: Law Enforcement Organization (Inter-Agency Approach)

Course Code: LEA 1
Modules # 1

HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

INTRODUCTION:
• Historians believe that law enforcement began unnoticed. It started in the
protection of the interest of the families, clans, tribes and finally end up in
nations or states.
• Law Enforcement certainly had its beginning in the last centuries of pre-
history. Early man felt the need to protect his territory, that formalized
methods of community protection became necessary. This was termed
“SELF-POLICING METHOD”.
• As population increases, the concept of self-policing proved inadequate and
so deteriorated.
• Scholars attributed to the Babylonian King Hammurabi, the set of oldest
codified laws, known as the “Code of Hammurabi”. The code was
considered as the “Foundation of the Development not only of Law but also
of Law Enforcement”.

Historical Background of Policing

 Police originated from the Greek Word “Politeia” which means group of
persons that governs a city.
 Roman changed it from Politeia to “Politia” – a Roman Word meaning
condition of a state, government and administration.
 It was the French who translated the “Politia” to police to refer to a law
enforcer.

Ancient History of Police:

 Medjay – a civil police headed by Egyptian military officer and the 1st
group to use Police Dogs on patrol
 Vigiles – a civilian in Rome armed with staves and short sword to
maintain Peace and to fight fires
 Anglo-Saxon – a member of the Germanic tribes which settled in
England in the 5th century A.D. and the 1st to conquer England.

Ancient Law Enforcement

 The Sumerians
 The earliest record of ancients people’s need to standardize rules
and methods of enforcement to control human behavior dates back
to approximately 2300 BC

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  The Babylonians
 The Code of King Hammurabi (2100 BC) – during the time of
Babylonian King Hammurabi, he established rules for his Kingdom
that designated not only offenses but punishment as well. The
principle of the code was that “the strong shall not injure the week”.
Hammurabi originated the legal principle LEX Talionis – “the eye for
an eye, tooth for a tooth” doctrine.

 Ancient Egypt
 The early Egyptians established laws and courts and a rudimentary
rule of law. The first accounts of a developing court system
originated in Egypt in approximately 1500 BC. The court system was
presided by judges appointed by the Pharaoh. They later organized
marine patrols and custom houses to protect commerce.

 Ancient Greece
 The Greeks had an impressive law enforcement called the EPHORI.
Each year at Sparta, a body of Ephors was elected and given almost
unlimited powers as investigator, judge, jury and executioner. These
five men also presided over the Senate and Assembly assuring that
their rules and decreed were followed.
 From the Greek Philosopher PLATO, who lived from 427 to 347 BC,
came the idea that punishment should serve the purpose other than
simple retaliation.

 Ancient Rome
 The Romans had a highly developed system to administer justice. The
12 Tabulae (12 Tables) were the first written laws of the Roman
Empire. It deals with legal procedures, property ownership, building
codes, marriage customs and punishment for crimes.
 At the reign of Empreror Augustus, he created Praetorian Guard,
consisted of about 7000 men/soldiers to protect the palace and the
city of Rome, together with the Urban Cohorts to patrol the city. He
also created the so-called Vigiles who were assigned as firefighters
and eventually given law enforcement responsibilities. As the first
civilian police force, Vigiles sometimes kept the peace very cruelly,
hence the word Vigilantes.
 Ancient Rome
 Another important event was the time of Justinian I, ruler of the
Eastern Roman Empire (AD 527-265) who collected all Roman Laws
and put it into his Justinian Code – they became known as the
Corpus Juris Civilis which means Body of Law.

EARLY SYSTEM OF POLICING

(PERIODS OF POLICING)
1. The Anglo-Saxon Period (600-1066)
2. The Normal Period of Policing System (1066-1285)
3. The Westminster Period of Policing System (1285-1500)
4. The Modern Policing System (1500 –early 18th Century)
Anglo-Saxon Period (600-1066 A.D.)
 Tun Policing System – tun: “town”
They gather all able-bodied male residents to guard their livestock
against wild animals and intruder.

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  Hue and Cry
An Ancient Saxon practice that invaders brought to England. When a
person commits a crime or a felon escaped and it was detected, an alarm
was sounded, through the use of the oldest known warning device, the
HORN. As they heard the sound all residents must help to capture the
captives and when find guilty punishment follow. Anybody who will not
help in the pursuit of the felon shall be considered as part of the escaping
felon and shall also be punished.
 Royal Judge
The identification of the criminal was done or started here and the
punishment must be suited to the crime that the person committed.
 Trial by Ordeal
The process of actually inflicting pain to all suspects purposely to
determine who the real suspect is. It is a belief that if you are guilty God will not
save you and if you are not guilty God will save you miraculously regardless of
what ordeal.

The Normal Period of Policing System (1066-1285)

• Shire – Rieve System
“Shire” refers to a District in England while “Rieve” refers to the head
of a district which later change to “sheriff”. Rieve was the ruler who males
laws, pass judgment and impose punishment. He was assisted by a
Constable (forerunner of the word constabulary). William Norman divided
England into 55 shire or district and each headed by a Rieve.
• KEEPERS OF THE PEACE,1195,King Richard of England- required the
appointment of Knights to keep the King’s peace by standing as guards on
bridges and gates while checking the people entering and living the cities
and towns.
• Legis Henrie
It is a law from King Henrie I of Spain; where it has the following
features:
Offenses were classified against the king and individual;
- Police became public officials;
- Police and citizens have the broad power to arrest;
- Grand jury was created to inquire on facts of the law.
• The Magna Carta
A law acted upon the Knights of the Royal Table/Decree; and has the
following features:
- No freemen shall be taken or imprisoned, disposed or
outlawed except by legal judgment of his peers;
- No person shall be held for trial for the crime of murder
without the proof of the body of the victim;
- Beginning of national and local government as well as national
and local legislation.

The Westminster Period of Policing System (1285-1500)

• Statute of 1295 – start of curfew hour
• Justice of the Peace – they are task to arrest, pursue and imposed
imprisonment.
• Star Chamber Court – special court which tries only crimes committed
against State

The Modern Policing System (17TH-19TH Century) in England

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 1. KING CHARLES II of England, 1663, a law that provided for the
employment of NIGHT WATCHMEN or BELLMEN called “CHARLIES” to
be on duty from sunset to sunrise. They carried long staves and dimly lit
lanterns. They were often called “shiver and shake” because many were
old and would run if they see trouble, or heard a cry for help. Some
were not honest who often times worked for criminals.
2. HENRY FIELDING, 1748, became the Chief Magistrate at Bow Street in
London, organized the BOW STREET RUNNERS thief catchers), and later
formed the BOW STREET HORSE PATROL whose duty was to patrol the
main roads thus secure the travelers from highwaymen or highway
pandits.
3. Sir ROBERT PEEL (Father of Modern Policing System), 1829 establish
the LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE, which became the world’s first
modern organized police force. Peel’s police were called “Peel’s Bloody
Gang”, “Blue Devils”, and “Dirty Papists”. It was later called SCOTLAND
YARD.

 Sir Robert Peel formulated various principles and rules of action in the
organization and administration of the Scotland Yard which most modern
police agencies in the world have adopted and practices.

PRINCIPLES OF ROBERT PEEL

1. Stable and effective police force should be under government control.
2. Absence of crime is the best proof of efficiency.
3. Fast distribution of news to the people is essential.
4. Proper distribution of the personnel according to the shift and by hour.
5. The best qualification of peace officers is control of temper.
6. Proper selection and training is the basis of efficiency.
7. Police can not function properly without wholehearted support of the
people.
8. Every police must sell himself to the people.
9. Police officers must go out of their way to help or assist the people.
Early History and Evolution of the Police Force in the Philippines
Philippine Police during the Spanish Regime
The Police system under the Spaniards was composed of four (3)
institutions, namely:
1. “Cuadrillos”
2. “Carabineros de Seguridad Publica”
3. “Guardia Civil”
The Cuadrillos or Guardrilleros
This was a body of rural police organized in each town and established by
the Royal decree of January 8, 1836. This act provides that 5% of the able
bodied-male residents of each town were to be enlisted in this Police
Organization for three years. At first, they were armed with lance, spare
and bolos but later on they were allowed to use firearms, most of which
were, however, muzzle loading rifles. They were compensated for at least
P3.00 a month for 3 years while other progressive provinces received P4.00
to P5.00 a month.
 Basic Functions:
 They act as messenger.
 To guard dark and unsafe places.
 To make patrol.
 To guard the municipal buildings and halls.
 Prison Guard.

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The Carabineros de Seguridad Publica
 This was organized in 1712 for the purpose of carrying out the regulations
of the department of state. It was armed, as its name indicates with
carbines. In 1781, it was given the special commission of government
custodies of the tobacco monopoly. By Royal decree of December 20, 1842,
it was organized and called Cuerpo de Carabineros de Seguridad Publica
(Corps of Carabines for Public Safety). This was the 1st group to be arm
with rifle in the history of Philippine Police System.
The Guardia Civil
 This was created by a Royal Decree issued by the Crown on February 12,
1852, to partially relieve the Spanish Peninsula troops of their work in
policing towns. It consisted of a body of Filipino policemen organized
originally in each of the provincial capitals of the central province of Luzon
under the Alcalde (Governor). This semi military police institution was
armed as the Spanish Infantry, very Martial in Appearance because of its
bright and showy uniform and distinctly prominent insignia, plus a rigidly
maintained military bearing.

The Japanese Occupation (1941-1945)

The Kempetai
 Military Police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945.
 The First group of Japanese Force who arrived in the Philippines as early as
1941.
 The Military Police held responsible in maintaining peace and order in
Manila and adjacent areas until Gen. Douglas Mc Arthur returned on Feb.
07, 1945.

POLICE SERVICE DURING AMERICAN OCUUPATION UNTIL THE WORLD WAR II

BROKE OUT

1. INSULAR POLICE- November 30,1900 during the Filipino- American war

(1898-1900) upon the recommendation of the Philippine Commission to
the Secretary of War.
2. INSULAR CONSTABULARY- July 18,1901 by Act. Nr. 175- “An act
providing The Organization and Government of an Insular Constabulary”
3. MANILA POLIE DEPARTMRNT (MPD)- July 31,1901 by Act Nr. 183 of the
Philippine Commission. The first Chief of Police was Capt. George Curry,
A US Army OFFICER appointed by Taff Commission on August 07,1901.
Captain Columbus Piatt was the last American COP of MPD before WW
II broke out.
4. INSULAR CONSTABULARY – was changed to PHILIPPINE
CONSTABULARY (PC), October 03, 1901 by Act Nr. 255- Brig/ Gen.
Henry T. Allen was the first Chief of the PC from 1901-1907 for such he
was called as the Father of Constabulary in the Philippines. The
Philippines was manned mostly by Filipinos but officers are mostly
Americans.
5. REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1917, a year before World War 1
(August 1914 to November 1918) ended. On Section 825 of this Law, it
stated that Philippine Constabulary is a National Police Institution for
preserving the peace keeping order and enforcing the law. Brigadier
General Rafael Crame became the first Filipino Chief of Police. He
served as PC Chief from 1917-1927.
6. REPUBLIC ACT Nr.3815, January 01,1932- Revised Penal Code of The
Philippines.

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 7. ACT Nr.181, November 1938- Creation of Bureau of Investigation, the
modification of the Division of the Investigation from the Department of
Justice. Finally, on June 19,1947, Ra Nr. 157 created the NATIONAL
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

Col. Antonio C. Torres- the first Filipino COP when Manila Police
Department became an all Filipino police Organization; Declared
Manila as an open city when World War II broke out in 1941; during
the WW II, Manila was placed again under the American control.
Col. Marcus Ellis Jones- a US Provost Marshall who was named as
MPD COP just after Manila Liberation.
Col. Lamberto T. Javalera- the first Filipino COP of MPD appointed by
Pres. Roxas under the Republic Government.

AFTER THE WW II, RELEVANT LAWS TO THE POLICE SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES
1.RA 2678,1960- provided the expansion and reorganization of the NBI.
This law established that the NBI is both an investigative and research service
agency.
2. RULES OF COURT, JANUARY 01,1964 – it was constructed in order to
promote the broad objective of the criminal justice system and to assist the
parties in obtaining just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every legal
action and proceeding.
3. RA 4864, SEPTEMBER 1966- POLICE ACT OF 1966 which created the
office of the NAPOLCOM should be under the office of the Police Commission
(later called NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSION) under the Office of the President.
Originally, the POLCOM was created as a supervisory agency to the PC. Its
function was to oversee the training and professionalization of the local police
force. Through this law, reformation and professionalization of the police service
gained official recognition.
4. PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 765, August 8,1975- stipulated that the office of
the NAPOLCOM should under the office of the Ministry of National Defense. It
defined also the relationship between the Integrated national Police and the
Philippine Constabulary. This was in compliance with the provision of Section 12,
Article 15 of the 1937 Philippine Constitution.
5. RA 6975 OR DILG ACT OF 1990 and later recognized as PNP LAW of
1991, December 13,1990, under President Corazon Aquino- created the
Philippine National Police and declared it to be the only Police force of the
country with national in scope and civilian in character.
6. RA 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization act of 1998, February
25, 1998, under President Fidel V, Ramos- amended some provisions of RA 6975
which reorganized the PNP for the purpose of reforming and professionalizing it.

Prepared by:

Ms. Hazel Faith D. Carreon

Criminology Instructor

Noted by:
Rommel K. Manwong, Ph.D.
Dean-Criminology Department

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