NCJ Number
61645
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 50-52
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
HISTORICAL AND ATTITUDINAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN POLICE ARE DISCUSSED, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE POSSESSION AND USE OF FIREARMS.
Abstract
WHILE THE SECOND AMENDMENT GIVES AMERICAN CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS, ENGLISHMEN VIEW FIREARMS USE AS AN INVITATION TO VIOLENCE AND HIGH CRIME RATES. ALTHOUGH ENGLISHMEN MAY POSSESS GUNS, POLICE STRICTLY ENFORCE THEIR POSSESSION; POLICE THEMSELVES MUST HAVE SPECIAL PERMISSION TO CARRY ARMS. GREATER RESPECT AND COOPERATION EXIST BETWEEN BRITISH POLICE AND CITIZENS, AND POLICE MAY TAKE GREATER LIBERTIES IN DETAINING SUSPECTS. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT CONSIDERED A PROFESSION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM; THUS, NO SEPARATION EXISTS BETWEEN THE COMMON PEOPLE AND POLICE, WHICH MAY DAMAGE CITIZEN TRUST AND SUBSEQUENT SUPPORT. BRITISH POLICE BELIEVE THEY LEARN THEIR TRADE ON THE JOB AND CONSIDER AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPERFLUOUS OR HARMFUL. THEY MAINTAIN BETTER CRIMINAL RECORDS, PROSECUTE CRIMINALS FURTHER THAN AMERICAN POLICE, AND MAY MAINTAIN A WATCH ON CRIMINALS WHICH IN AMERICA WOULD BE DEEMED HARRASSMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE BRITISH SEE NO REASON TO SUBJECT THE ACTIVITIES OF THEIR POLICE TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY, UNLIKE AMERICANS WHO DEMAND TO KNOW ALL DETAILS OF POLICE ACTIVITIES. AMERICANS APPEAR UNPREPARED TO MODEL THEIR SYSTEM AFTER THE BRITISH EXPERIENCE. DIFFERENCES IN SIZE, PROBLEMS, AND POLICE ADMINISTRATION DETER INTERCHANGEABLILITY OF THE TWO SYSTEMS. SOME FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)