The evolution of England's police authority -- a body that oversees the authority of the chief constable in a district -- is traced from the passage of the Metropolitan Police Act and the beginning of the modern police service in 1829. Various milestones, including the passage of the Local Government Act in 1888 and the Police Act in 1919, are examined. The decisions of the Royal Commission on the Police, 1960 to 1962, are noted. The commission suggested that police control be achieved by controlling chief constables. In addition, the commission recommended that chief officers remain independent and immune from outside pressure in 'quasi-judicial' matters. The commission's recommendations led to the Police Act of 1964; this legislation enacted most of the commission's proposals, but did not introduce any statutory role for the police authorities in advising or guiding chief constables. The movement for reform of police authorities is traced from the passage of the Police Act and to a dislike for the police, rather than a concern for the policed. Friction between chief constables and their police authorities is examined, and attention is given the Police Authority (Powers) Bill, the Scarman Report, and the campaign for political control of police authorities. Resistance to such control is advised. Four appendixes are included.