The Metropolitan Police Act of 1829
"When the leaders of change ignore a negative behaviour, they set a new standard"
👏 Happy Friday!
On this day, September 29, 1829, the first units of the London Metropolitan Police appeared on the streets of the British capital, the city’s first modern police force. This pivotal event marked a major change in public safety and order in London’s swiftly growing urban landscape. The Metropolitan Police Act established a unified, centralised agency with jurisdiction over Greater London, accountable to the Home Secretary. With approximately 1,000 constables, the force provided a cohesive law enforcement structure for the city’s rapidly growing population of 1.5 million residents. The legislation underpinning the Metropolitan Police arose from an urgent need to professionalise law and order as London expanded. But instituting this major change required navigating significant resistance from citizens fearful of government overreach. With time and measured reforms, the force gradually achieved greater public trust through disciplined conduct. They embraced Sir Robert Peel’s pioneering principles of ethical policing, which focused on crime prevention over repression.
✅ Sir Robert Peel established the London Metropolitan Police in 1829 on three core ideas and nine policing principles. These principles emphasise community collaboration, law enforcement by consent, and the importance of preventing crime rather than relying on physical force. However, a recent series of scandals has hit the UK’s biggest police force, including the kidnapping and murder of a 33-year-old woman in south London by a serving police officer. Two years later, in March 2023, Baroness Casey published her independent review of the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police. The report found that “Racist, misogynist, homophobic and other discriminatory acts were tolerated, ignored, or dismissed as ‘banter’” and “More robust and strategic oversight, based on support, challenge and mutual respect for their respective roles, is needed.” Leaders must absolutely adhere to professional standards, but more importantly they must actively intervene and challenge the wrong behaviour. Change Leaders Intervene to Enforce Standards.
“When the leaders of change ignore a negative behaviour, they set a new standard”
👉 No matter how well the change has been implemented in the organisation, it is unlikely that everyone will adopt the change right away. Full change adoption success will require intervention from leaders to ensure sustainable change. This task cannot be done by just the change team and the sponsor. The leader must also do this as part of their daily tasks. The third responsibility for the change leadership team in fully implementing their organisation’s change is ‘INTERVENE to ensure sustainable change’. Once the leader’s change vision has been implemented, it is about making it sustainable and normal day-to-day operations. It is important that the leadership team effectively and proactively intervene to reinforce the change.
Have a fantastic weekend with the ones you love and care for, tell them you love them, enjoy some fresh air, exercise, eat, drink and be happy.
Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change®.
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Peter F Gallagher is a Change Management Global Thought Leader, Guru, Expert, International Speaker, Author and Leadership Alignment Coach.
Listed #1 by leadersHum Top 40 Change Management Gurus You Should Follow in 2022 (Mar 2022).
Ranked #1 Change Management Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Change Management (2023-2022-2021-2020) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #1 Business Strategy Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Business Strategy (2022) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #2 Leadership Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Leadership (Aug 2020) by Thinkers360.
Business Book Ranking
Change Management Behaviour - Leadership of Change® Volume 6, listed among the 50 Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2022.
Change Management Adoption - Leadership of Change® Volume 5, listed among year-to-date’s (Jul 2021) most popular books on business and technology from Thinkers360 member thought leaders.
Change Management Handbook - Leadership of Change® Volume 3, listed among the 50 Business and Technology Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2021.
Change Management Pocket Guide - Leadership of Change® Volume 2, ranked within the top 50 Business and Technology Books (Jan 2020) from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders.