Police-Public Relations in Leeds, c.1870-1890

What is it about?

This article explores the quality of police-public relations in Leeds in the late nineteenth century. It focuses on tensions and conflict between the police and the people, in particular the working class, revealing that ill-feeling was widespread at this time. Focusing on violent and abusive encounters with the police, this article sheds light on popular resistance to particular aspects of policing, and to the institution of the police itself.

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Why is it important?

Conventional interpretations of police history suggest that negative public relations were largely confined to 'rough' neighbourhoods, and focused on particular police duties. By contrast, this article argues that resistance to policing was more deeply rooted in the working class, and that opposition was as much principled as it was pragmatic. This argument matters in the wake of major anti-police disturbances in the UK in 2011, and evidence of continued, deep-seated resentment of the police.