Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why were the first London police officers called bobbies?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
police
Officers of the French National Police patrolling a housing project.
The term "bobbies" is a nickname for members of Londonās Metropolitan Police, derived from the name of Sir Robert Peel.1
As home secretary, Peel was the primary force behind the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829, which established the first professional, disciplined police force for the Greater London area. Because of his instrumental role in creating the force, the officers were initially referred to as "Bobby's boys" and eventually became known simply as "bobbies". For the same reason, they are also sometimes called "peelers".12