NCJ Number
25837
Date Published
1973
Length
16 pages
Annotation
BY COMPARING BRITISH, FRENCH AND AMERICAN POLICE AND THEIR PHILOSOPHIES, THE AUTHOR ILLUSTRATES HIS IDEA THAT THE POLICE, LIKE LAWS, REFLECT THE NATURE OF THE SOCIETY WHICH THEY SERVE.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE POLICE OF BRITAIN HAVE NEVER BEEN RECOGNIZED EITHER IN LAW OR BY TRADITION AS A FORCE DISTINCT FROM THE GENERAL BODY OF CITIZENS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SYSTEM DEPENDS FOR EFFECTIVENESS ON THE GOODWILL AND MORAL SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC; THE POLICE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO BE UNARMED; AND THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFY WITH EACH OTHER VERY CLOSELY. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE WAY THE POLICE HANDLE LABOR DISPUTES, CIVIL DISTURBANCES, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS. HE NOTES THE NEED FOR GREATER POLICE AWARENESS AND VERSATILITY IN THE LIGHT OF INCREASINGLY FREQUENT MASS DEMONSTRATIONS AND THE MORE PREVALENT USE OF DRUGS BY YOUNG PEOPLE. THE WAYS THAT POLICE ARE RESPONDING TO THE CHANGING SCENE INCLUDE UPDATED TRAINING PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS DETAILS.