Police are called "peelers" as a nickname derived from Sir Robert Peel, who established the Metropolitan Police Force in London in 1829. The officers of this first modern professional police force were sometimes called "peelers" after Peel's last name, just as they were also called "bobbies" after his first name. Peel, as British Home Secretary, introduced the Metropolitan Police Act that created this new disciplined police force focused on crime prevention and community cooperation rather than military-style enforcement. The term "peelers" honors his legacy in formalizing and reforming policing in England.
