What were the changes introduced by the British in the police system
Answers
Answer:
1. Between 1765 and 1772: The zamindars of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa were expected to maintain the staff including thanedars for law and order duties and for maintaining peace, as well as dealing with crime and criminals. But very often, the zamidars neglected their duties. They are even said to have colluded with dacoits and shared their loot.
2. In 1770 AD, the institution of the faujdar and amils were abolished.
3. In 1774 AD, Warren Hastings restored the institution of faujdars and asked the zamindars to assist them in suppression of dacoits, violence and disorder.
4. In 1775 AD, faujdar thanas were established in the major towns of large districts and were assisted by several smaller police stations.
5. 1791: Cornwallis organised a regular police force to maintain law and order by going back to and modernising the old Indian system of thanas (circles) in a district under a daroga (an Indian) and a superintendent of police (SP) at the head of a district. He relieved the zamindars of their police duties.
6. 1808: Mayo appointed an SP for each division helped by a number of spies (goyendas) but these spies committed depredations on local people.
7. 1814: By an order of the Court of Directors, the appointment of darogas and their subordinates was abolished in all possessions of the Company except in Bengal.
Explanation:
The nature of the state under the Mughals and other native states during pre-colonial period was autocratic and there were separate or formal police system. However, there have been watch-guards since time immemorial protecting villages at night. Later, under the Mughal rule there were the faujdars who helped in maintaining law and order, and amils who were basically revenue collectors but had to contend with rebels, if any. The kotwal was responsible for maintenance of law and order in the cities.