NCJ Number
66561
Editor(s)
S HOLDAWAY
Date Published
1979
Length
192 pages
Annotation
USING VARIED THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES, THIS BOOK STUDIES BOTH THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OF THE BRITISH POLICE AND THEIR ROLE WITHIN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE.
Abstract
THE HISTORY OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE IS DOCUMENTED AS THE MODEL FOR LATER ANGLO-AMERICAN FORCES, WITH THE CENTRAL POLICE CONCERN VIEWED AS THAT OF INTEGRATING DISSENTING GROUPS. AN ATTEMPT IS THEN MADE TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN INTERACTIONIST STUDIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STRUCTURALIST THEORIES OF THE POLITICS OF LAW BY LOCATING ROUTINE POLICE ACTION (ARREST) IN ITS LEGAL CONTEXT. A THIRD ARGUMENT BUILDS ON THE SOCIAL CONTROL OF THE POLICE THEMSELVES, CONTENDING THAT THE NORMS CONTROLLING POLICE CONDUCT CANNOT BE LOCATED IN LAW, IN MUNICIPAL OR STATE REGULATIONS, OR IN DEPARTMENT OPERATING MANUALS, BUT ARE FOUND IN THE OCCUPATIONAL CULTURE. THAT CULTURE IS SHOWN IN A STUDY OF HOW MANAGERIAL RANKS ATTEMPT TO CONTROL SUBORDINATES IN ORDER TO REORIENT AND RESTRICT THEIR POLICING METHODS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SPECIAL UNITS ARE BEING ESTABLISHED FROM BELOW TO DEAL WITH PERCEIVED RISES IN PARTICULAR TYPES OF CRIME. IN THIS REGARD, THE THEME IS RAISED THAT THE LOWER RANKS OF THE SERVICE CONTROL THEIR OWN WORK SITUATION AND SUCH CONTROL MAY WELL SHIELD QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES. THIS THEME IS ACCOMPANIED BY STRUCTURALIST ARGUMENTS THAT SUCH PRACTICES MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO OTHER AGENCIES OF CONTROL (MAGISTRATES, JUDGES) NOT THROUGH PERSONAL WHIM, BUT BECAUSE THE LAW ITSELF AFFORDS CONSIDERABLE FREEDOM TO POLICE ACTIVITY. FROM THIS VIEWPOINT, THE FIXED POINTS SYSTEM OF POLICE PATROL IS DISCUSSED AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MILITARY'S CONTRIBUTION TO POLICING MODELS. FURTHER STUDIES IMPLY THAT THE POLICE SOCIAL WELFARE ROLE IS A CRUDE AND UNREFLECTIVE INSTRUMENT OF SOCIAL POLICY AND THAT THE POLICE ARE A MULTIFACETED SOCIAL CONTROL AGENCY SERVING MULTIPLE ENDS AND VARIOUS AUDIENCES. FINALLY, DISCUSSIONS CENTER ON THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE POLICE PERCEPTION OF THEMSELVES AND PERSPECTIVES OF THE PUBLIC WITH REFERENCE TO THE POLICE IMAGE IN TELEVISION AND THE NEWS MEDIA, AND THE POLICE ATTITUDE TOWARD UNIONISM, THEIR WORK, AND THEIR CAREERS. REFERENCES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)