Why were London Metropolitan Police constables unarmed and instructed to treat citizens with respect?

The London Metropolitan Police were established in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel with a design fundamentally different from the military-style, armed forces seen in continental Europe or Ireland at the time.12

The decision to keep officers unarmed and require respectful treatment of citizens was rooted in the following factors:

• Policing by Consent: The force was built on the theory of "policing by consent," which holds that police authority is derived from the cooperation and voluntary observance of the law by the public, rather than through fear or military force.12
• Public Distrust: Many citizens and political leaders initially feared that a professional police force would threaten civil liberties or be used as a tool for political oppression. By avoiding firearms and emphasizing courtesy, the force sought to distinguish itself from a military presence and gain public legitimacy.12
• Peelian Principles: Officers were guided by principles—often attributed to commissioners Charles Rowan and Richard Mayne—that prioritized crime prevention over arrests. These principles mandated that officers offer service, friendliness, and respect to all citizens regardless of social standing, using physical force only as a last resort.12