British Gendarmerie Formed

Hopefully this will be more successfull than last time.

What if Britain created a gendarmerie or marshalcy at some point in the country's history? How would it be organised, how would it be equipped, what would it's roles be and how would it effect the history of Britain?
 

Thande

Donor
Or after 1745?

That sounds good, but I'm not sure how the counties would react to the idea of nationally-controlled men under arms being stationed there, as opposed to the yeomanry. You really have to have paranoia at invasion (or a crime epidemic) sufficient to overrule the deep suspicions of such things essentially dating from the 1640s.
 
As far as I'm aware, the first police units were to be clad in rifle green and armed (a subsidiary duty being dealing with any naughty French invasion), but I believe disquiet over Peterloo etc., and rich people fearing government lackies, put the kybosh on it.

I suppose a continuation of the militia doing policing, at least in rural areas, could see a situation similar to on the Continent.
 

67th Tigers

Banned
As far as I'm aware, the first police units were to be clad in rifle green and armed (a subsidiary duty being dealing with any naughty French invasion), but I believe disquiet over Peterloo etc., and rich people fearing government lackies, put the kybosh on it.

I suppose a continuation of the militia doing policing, at least in rural areas, could see a situation similar to on the Continent.

The RIC and DMP kept the rifle, for obvious reasons.

The "Gendarmerie" of Britain was the Militia, who were home service regulars whose duties included maintenance of order. The government planning figure was that 50,000 men in arms were necessary to keep Britain under control, and 25,000 in Ireland.

In peacetime, the majority of these men were drawn from the regular Army. However, if mobilised for war, the militia would be called up to replace them. As police forces spread across the country, the militia became freed of even this duty, so that in 1855, a force of militia was available for detachment to the Med (and the Army recruited a lot of regulars from them), and ultimately in 1900, formed militia brigades were deployed to both relieve British regulars for the Boer War, but also deployed directly to the treatre of war.
 

HueyLong

Banned
I have the British form a number of gendarmerie in the years following the Troubles (an era of political assassinations, grain riots and pro-Royalist demonstrations) in the 1840s.

The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms is expanded greatly, and made more visible, and the Royal Constabularies patrol the streets of every large city. Both carry rifles and answer to military or royal authorities. (HC answering directly to the Monarch or Regent and the RC answering directly to the Army)
 
Hopefully this will be more successfull than last time.

What if Britain created a gendarmerie or marshalcy at some point in the country's history? How would it be organised, how would it be equipped, what would it's roles be and how would it effect the history of Britain?
I wonder what the effect would br on English law, Scots law and Irish law. A single enforcement agency may lead to a more concerted effort at a single British legal system. (a thouroughly Unionist Idea after all)
 
I wonder what the effect would br on English law, Scots law and Irish law. A single enforcement agency may lead to a more concerted effort at a single British legal system. (a thouroughly Unionist Idea after all)

Also what effect would it have on the development of a criminal civil police?
 
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