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As we all know the general feeling in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries was strongly opposed to a large standing army or even a civilian police force. The latter despite a quite serious crime problem in sections of the country.

1: A standing British Army. What circumstances would be needed to create a large standing army in Britain at the earliest possible date?

2: A British Gendarmerie. How would such a paramilitary force, so common in Continental Europe, araise in the UK.

3: An armed police force. Instead of the traditional unarmed "Bobbie" how could their be an armed constabulary from day one. Up until about the 1930's constables on night patrol duty were permitted to carry a pistol if they wished.

Remember the first police force created by Robert Peel was the Royal Irish Constabulary, an organisation discribed as the model of a colonial police force and one that wore the same uniform as the elite rifle regiments (and the dress uniform of the RCMP is still based on the British Army's redcoat.
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