Mark Dantoni, age 16, of Utica, N.Y., for his question:

WHY ARE THE POLICE IN LONDON CALLED BOBBIES?

A famous British statesman named Sir Robert Peel founded the London police force in 1829. The police have been called bobbies, after Peel's nickname, ever since that time.

Peel became a member of the House of Commons when he was 21 and was soon appointed as undersecretary for war and the colonies. Later he ruled Ireland with a firm hand as chief secretary.

To aid in enforcing the criminal code, which he helped revise and reform, Peel organized the London police force.

Later Peel formed the Conservative Party from the old Tory Party. Although the party was conservative in regard to the British constitution, Peel labored to make the party concerned with the nation's welfare.

As leader of the Conservative Party, Peel became prime minister for a short time in 1834. He became prime minister again in 1841 and remained in this office until 1846.

Peel's good work as a statesman is remembered to this day through the bobbies in London.