The Politics of the Police

This third edition of the popular and highly acclaimed text has been completely revised and updated to take account of recent and profound changes in the law, policy, and organisation of policing. The Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the Police Act 1996, and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 have all had a major impact on policing in the UK during this period. The social and political context has also changed dramatically - notleast...
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This third edition of the popular and highly acclaimed text has been completely revised and updated to take account of recent and profound changes in the law, policy, and organisation of policing. The Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the Police Act 1996, and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 have all had a major impact on policing in the UK during this period. The social and political context has also changed dramatically - notleast with the election of a Labour government after eighteen years of Conservative rule. All these factors have led to a profound shift in the nature of policing.For this new edition, the author has retained the book's threefold structure, covering the history of the police, the sociology of policing, and the law and politics of the police. There is also an examination of the complex and highly charged debates surrounding policing, including the various controversies and developments which have led to a change in the public's opinion of the police in recent years - from the violent conflict of the miners' strike in 1984-5 to the Macpherson report on theStephen Lawrence case in 1999. In addition, current proposals for reform are analysed and others proposed.This clear, insightful, and up to date review of a complex and contentious subject will be essential reading for all those concerned with policing, whether students, researchers, or professionals.