NCJ Number
158656
Date Published
1995
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This chapter provides an overview of the organization and control of the British police.
Abstract
A review of police structure and functions outlines the responsibilities of the police, noting that a philosophy of policing that encompasses crime prevention and services to citizens is de-emphasized, as crime detection and the maintenance of public order receive top priority. Descriptions of the roles of constables and chief constables are followed by a brief history of the development of the British police. A discussion of the "new" police in the 1990's focuses on centralizing tendencies at the national level, beat patrols and specialist squads, police powers, the use of physical force in law enforcement, public order, and the use of "high" technology in police work. Another major section of this chapter addresses accountability and control of the police. Topics considered in this section are media coverage of the police, police accountability through the courts, relations with the Crown Prosecution Service, local police authorities, the Home Office, community liaison, and police complaints authority. The discussion of police accountability through the courts contains subsections on criminal and civil actions against police, the exclusion of evidence illegally obtained by police, and judicial review of police action. 2 tables and 72 footnotes