HISTORICAL

DEVELOPMENT OF
POLICING SYSTEM
 Historical Background of
various law enforcement and
public safety

“POLITIA” – (Roman) – condition of a state,

state government and administration
“POLITEIA” – (Greek) - government,
citizenship, or the entire activity of a “polis”, a
city
The French changed the word to “police” and
used it to those authorized people who actually
enforce the law. The Americans borrowed the
word from the French and used it to describe a
law enforcement officer.
 Development of Policing in the
International Setting
A. Anglo Saxon (Ancient
England) Period – 600 – 1066
A.D.\
1. Thanes Policing System 
2. Frankpledge Policing System
3. Tun Policing System
4. Hue and Cry Policing
System
5. Royal Judge System 
6. Trial by Ordeal
B. Normal Period – 1066 – 1285
1. Shire-reeve System
 Shire – used to refer to a district.
 Reeve – used to refer to the ruler
of the district who made laws,
rendered judgment, and imposed
penalties.
2. Court of the Tourn 
3. Court Leet 
4. Legis Henrie 
5. Keepers of the Peace 
6. Magna Carta ( Great Charter )
C. Westminster Period (1285 –
1500 )
1. Statute of Winchester (1285) 
2. Statute of 1295 
3. Justice of the Peace
4. Star Chamber Court 
D. Modern Period
5. Night Watchmen or Bellmen
6. Bow Street Runners (Thief
Catchers)
7. London Metropolitan Police
a. French Police System
1. During 17th century, King Louis XIV maintained a small
central police organization consisting of some 40
inspectors who with the help of numerous paid
informants, supplied the government with the details
about the conduct of private individuals.
2. Officer de Paix (1791)
3. Sergent de Ville (Servant of the City)
4. Other contributions:
- Conceiving street signs
- Assigning house numbers
- Installing street lighting
- Creating emergency and rescue services
- Use of police ambulances
- Use of warrant card and ID signifying authority to arrest
a.American Police System
1.Rattlewatch
2.Municipal Police Force
3.State Police Force
4.Federal Police Force
American Occupation
1. Insular Police Force (November 30,1890)
2. Insular Constabulary (July 18, 1901)
3. Manila Police Department (MPD) July 31, 1901
- Act no. 183
- Capt. George Curry- last American COP of MPD
- Col. Antonio C. Torres – 1st Filipino Chief of Police
- Col. Lamberto T. Javalera – 1st Filipino COP appointed by Pres. Roxas
4. Philippine Constabulary (October 3, 1901)
- Insular constabulary was changed to PC by virtue of Act.255
- Capt. Henry T. Allen – 1st chief of PC, “Father of Constabulary” , Philippines
- Mostly manned by Filipinos but officers were mostly Americans
- A national police institution for preserving the peace, keeping order and enforcing the law
- Brig/Gen. Rafael Crame – 1st Filipino PC chief
Japanese Occupation
1. Kempeitai
- Methods of Interrogation
a. Corporal beatings e. Dislocation of Limbs
b. Water torture f. Psychological Torture
c. Electric torture g. Threats to Families
d. Burning
2. Metropolitan Constabulary
- Under the Bureau of Constabulary
- Formerly known as MPD during American
occupation
After American Occupation
R.A. 4864 (Sept. 18,1966)
- General Qualification
Completed high school – municipalities
Completed at least 2 yrs. In college – provinces
and cities
Not less than 23 nor more than 33 years of
age
Must be at least 5’5” – provinces and
chartered cities, 5’4” –
municipalities
All examinations were conducted by the
CSC
P.D. no. 421 (1974)
- integrated the city/municipal police force, the jail
and fire departments within greater Manila headed by
the commanding Gen. Philippine Constabulary –
Metropolitan Command (PC METROCOM)
P.D. no 765 (august 8, 1975)
Composed of PC as the nucleus
Integrated police forces (police, fire and jail
services as components under DND)
Responsible for public safety, protection of live
and properties, enforcement of laws and maintain
peace and order within territorial limits of the
Philippines.
Spanish Period
1. Carabineros de Seguridad Publico/a (mounted
police) – 1712
- Later known as Cuerpo de Carabineros de Seguridad
Publica by virtue of a Royal Decree on December
20,1842
2. Guardrilleros (January 8, 1836)
3. Guardia Civil (February 12, 1852)
- Partially relieved the Spanish peninsular troops of
their in policing towns
- Consisted of a body of Filipino policemen organized
originally in each of the provincial capitals of the
central provinces of Luzon under the Alcalde
(governor)