Historical Evolution of Police Forces: Antiquity to 19th Century

Historical Evolution of Police Forces

1. The Police Function in Antiquity

• In Ancient Egypt, police chiefs had investigative functions, training, and the implementation of justice.
• In China, the police took charge of citizen control on every street, watched suspects, and informed the judge of any incident.
• In the Inca Empire, they were charged with controlling every act of any citizen.
• In Ancient Greece, their first task was the protection of the ruler and the city coffers. They later had powers of investigation, arrest of criminals, guarding prisoners, and execution of sentences.
• In Ancient Rome, they maintained law and order in cities. They fought against violent crime, guarded against prostitution, pursued counterfeiting, and cared for public hygiene.

8. List of the Existing Forces of Order and Security During the Reign of Charles III

• The Urban Militia (patrolling at night)
• The Safeguards of the People (day and night surveillance)
• The Corps of Invalids
• The General Police Superintendency of Madrid
• The Royal Fusiliers Rangers (guarded residences and real property)
• Fixed Infantry Companies of the Coast of Granada (chasing criminals)
• Loose Rifle Companies of Aragon
• The Migueletes
• The Armed Volunteers of Andalusia
• The Young Men of the Squadron

13. The Police Model of Joseph Bonaparte

He created the first Ministry of General Police whose duties were to maintain state security. He created Police Regulations governing the entry and movement of people in Madrid and created the General Police Inspectorate of Madrid, which implemented the regulations made by the General Police Department. He also created the Urban Militias of the Kingdom, who took charge of caring for the public peace, and the Civic Militia to protect persons and property and ensure good public order.

25. Police Structures Created by the Board

Two structures were created:

• At the central level:
  • A Section of Public Order
  • Social Research Division
  • Railway and Borders Central Identification Cabinet
  • The Justice Section
  • A Juvenile Police
  • The Stock of the General Security
  • The Printing Office of the General Security Directorate
  • The Central Section of Security Forces
  • Courts of Honor for Guard Corps
  • The Vigilante Driver
  • The Language Interpreter Section
  • The Fund for Relief of the Guard Corps
  • The First Registration of Drug Addicts
  • Film Censorship
  • Reorganization of the Police College
• At the peripheral level:
  • Creation of the post of Police Commissioner
  • Strengthening of the figure of the Commissioner
  • Establishment of Police Districts
  • Creation of levels of management, services, and regulations
  • Establishment of the Official Gazette of the Surveillance and Security Corps
  • Regulation of the Spanish Police