 At the time, burglary (or "house breaking" as it was then called) was a common problem for police, as house breakers were usually armed.Due to the deaths of officers at the hands of armed criminals in the outer districts of the Metropolis, and after much press coverage debating whether Peel's service should be fully armed, the Commissioner applied to the Home Secretary to supply all officers on the outer districts with revolvers.These could only be issued if, in the opinion of the senior officer, the officer could be trusted to use it safely, and with discretion.