Sir Robert Peel received royal assent for the Metropolis Police Improvement Bill on 19th June, 1829 - leading to the creation of London's first professional police force, who were soon nicknamed ‘Bobbies’ in tribute.
The Met’s first constables hit the streets that Autumn, dressed in tailcoats (to signify their role as servants of the people), and top hats ( ... Show More
Jan 29
Desert Island Discs' First Castaway
The BBC broadcast the first ever edition of Roy Plomley’s ‘Desert Island Discs’ - the world’s longest-running interview programme - on 29th January, 1942. Opening, as the show still does, with Eric Coates’s theme music ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon’, the episode welcomed comedian Vic Oli ... Show More
13m 54s
Jan 28
Lego Shifts To Plastic
Stud-and-tube bricks, which paved the way for Lego to become one of the most successful companies in Denmark, were patented on 28th January, 1958. But this family business had already been in existence for 26 years, mostly making wooden toys. It later emerged, however, that the p ... Show More
11m 23s
Feb 2023
Putting An End To Toxic Cop Culture
When it comes to police reform, a retired NYPD detective argues that policing as a profession must evolve or go away completely.
The problem of police violence, and the excessive use of force in Black and Brown communities in particular, has spanned centuries and retired NYPD de ... Show More
17m 36s
Jun 2020
How The First Police Went From Gangsters, To An Army For The Rich
When U.S. police departments didn't evolve out of slave patrols, they tended to form out of a desire to protect the property of the wealthy. In practice, this meant beating, murdering and arresting people who didn't want to work 12 hour days until they died.FOOTNOTES: Krypteia: A ... Show More
1h 22m
Jun 2020
How The First Police Went From Gangsters, To An Army For The Rich
<p>When U.S. police departments didn't evolve out of slave patrols, they tended to form out of a desire to protect the property of the wealthy. In practice, this meant beating, murdering and arresting people who didn't want to work 12 hour days until they died.</p><p><strong>FOOT ... Show More
1h 31m