NCJ Number
88575
Journal
Revue de la police nacionale Issue: 118 Dated: (November 1982) Pages: 35-41
Date Published
1982
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Part of a sweeping overview of the police forces in Great Britain for French readers, three articles recount the history, organization, and powers of the police in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Thames Valley, respectively.
Abstract
The development of the police in Scotland was historically parallel to England's. Today there are eight police departments, each with administrative, criminal investigation, traffic, and patrol branches. Unlike the English police, the Scottish police are not under the authority of the Home Minister but rather under that of the State Secretary of Scotland. Other unique characteristics of the Scottish police are the limitations on power exercised by the Public Minister of Justice and the absence of the rule of habeas corpus in Scottish law. Following a variable organizational history, the policing function in Northern Ireland is today (since 1970) performed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which still carries some features of a military as well as a peace keeping police force. Proposals have been made to divest it of its military character. Nevertheless, the terrorist menace in the area justifies the continuation of special powers of arrest, detention, and investigation endowed in the Countabulary by the Northern Ireland Emergency Provisions Act, 1978. The Thames Valley police force protects the 'Queen's peace' in a three-county area of both urban and rural character. It is one of the most important and largest police departments in England, encompassing about 3,000 police officers, some 1,200 civil employees, and serving a population of almost 2 million. Its duties are diverse and challenging due to the diverse aspects of the jurisdiction, including tourist attractions, industrial centers, agricultural expanses, security installations, urban crime concentrations, and exclusive residential areas. All investigative officers of the force must begin their careers on the patrol beat and the department has been admitting female officers since 1976. Illustrations are provided.