In the early 1950s , he played a crucial role in policing decolonisation in the British Empire , and developedg a model of public service policing that was not liked by everyone in some colonies but which time has shown to have been a good idea . In the early 1950s , he played a crucial role in policing decolonisation in the British Empire , developing a model of public service policing that proved deeply contentious in some colonies but which time has shown to have been acute and prudent .