The Peelian ideal is genuinely quite good compared to many philosophies of policing in my view, the whole idea that the legitimacy of policing can only come from it being executed from the bottom-up by citizens in uniform rather than top-down from the state’s mandated skull-crackers is pretty progressive for 19th century London. The fact the police aren’t generally armed on this basis is rare internationally and genuinely a good thing in my view.
The problem is like any theory, it doesn’t often survive contact with reality for very long. The gap between the model and reality, and the value of the model itself have obviously been discussed at length elsewhere on here. Also the first ‘Peelers’ were not exactly popular too.
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black American man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old White police officer, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.[16] Floyd had been arrested after a store clerk reported that he made a purchase using a counterfeit $20 bill.[17] Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face-down.[18][19][20] Two other police officers, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, assisted Chauvin in restraining Floyd. Lane had also pointed a gun at Floyd’s head before he was handcuffed.[21] A fourth officer, Tou Thao, prevented bystanders from intervening
Why do you think British police are good?
No guns, strong social incentive to be polite so even the bobbies aren’t as assholey as other cops.
At least that’s my theory
It’s an old meme, I don’t think OP is making any judgements about the British police.
The Peelian ideal is genuinely quite good compared to many philosophies of policing in my view, the whole idea that the legitimacy of policing can only come from it being executed from the bottom-up by citizens in uniform rather than top-down from the state’s mandated skull-crackers is pretty progressive for 19th century London. The fact the police aren’t generally armed on this basis is rare internationally and genuinely a good thing in my view.
The problem is like any theory, it doesn’t often survive contact with reality for very long. The gap between the model and reality, and the value of the model itself have obviously been discussed at length elsewhere on here. Also the first ‘Peelers’ were not exactly popular too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_George_Floyd
It’s a matter of perspective. If someone is abused enough by their own peackeepers, they’ll beg for some that are less abusive.