Post-2020 it’s safe to say people’s views on “the police” as an institution have been… not so great. Every couple of years seems to herald in some new landmark investigation into police misconduct, and a rotating cast of government officials continue to make bold promises of “root and branch reform” every time a news story hits the headlines - but how did we actually get here? Why are the police like this?

In this episode I will take a deep dive into the history of policing in Britain, specifically into the foundation of one of its leading forces: the Metropolitan Police. I’ll also take us into the present day and question the expanding role of the police in the realms of homelessness, mental illness and education.