British slang term for a police officer, derived from the nickname for Robert Peel who established the modern police force.
Named after Sir Robert 'Bobby' Peel, British Home Secretary who created the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829. The diminutive nickname 'Bobby' became associated with the new police force he established.
British police were also called 'Peelers' after Robert Peel, but 'bobby' stuck because it sounded friendlier and less formal. Peel's principles of policing emphasized that police effectiveness comes from public approval and cooperation, not force.
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