Why is scotland yard called that

The very name evokes images of intrepid detectives on the trail of master criminals. Londoners know the Yard as headquarters for their beloved Bobbies while mystery lovers see its operatives as allies and rivals of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot.

Scotland Yard is probably the most famous police service in the world. But what kind of name is that for a police department, especially one located hundreds of miles from Scotland? But civilian law enforcement agencies are relatively new.

For example, his officers wore blue uniforms that looked nothing like the red coats worn by British soldiers, and officers were required to wear their uniforms both on and off duty to allay fears that they were spying on people. A Back Door on Scotland Yard. Nooks and crannies.

Semantic enigmas. The body beautiful. Red tape, white lies. Speculative science. This sceptred isle. Root of all evil. Ethical conundrums. This sporting life. Image from 'The town: its memorable characters and events', , courtesy of the University of Toronto on Flickr. Scotland Yard is the name popularly given to the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the police force responsible for policing the majority of Greater London with the exception of the City of London and London's underground and railways.

This building was only occupied by the police in , so the name has a much earlier origin. The name Scotland Yard comes from its very earliest days, soon after the establishment of the police force in London in The first Metropolitan Police station was opened on 6 October in a street called Great Scotland Yard and was at the rear of 4 Whitehall Place which served as the office of the two newly appointed police commissioners.

The origin of the name Scotland Yard both Great and Little is unknown, but may be named after a former landowner or a connection with the Kings of Scotland. The name was in use by the 17th century. The area can be seen on this map. By , The Times newspaper was referring to the police at 'Scotland Yard', and it being the 'home station' of the police and that of the Chief Police Officer [2], and it is clear from other sources of the time that almost from its earliest days the headquarters was known as Scotland Yard.

As the police force expanded and the number of 'peelers' or 'bobbies' increased, new buildings in Great Scotland Yard and Whitehall Place were taken over, but it became clear that this miscellaneous collection of buildings was not suitable for the force.