NCJ Number
121672
Journal
Police Volume: 21 Issue: 10 Dated: (June-July 1989) Pages: 12,14
Date Published
1989
Length
2 pages
Annotation
When the members of the European Community reciprocally remove their internal border controls in 1992, the police forces in Britain will encounter considerable law enforcement problems.
Abstract
These will include differences in policing systems, conflicts between criminal justice procedures, and questions of jurisdiction and extradition. Increased involvement between British and European forces will result in a more internationalist outlook and experience with regard to drug smuggling, international crime, and terrorism. Although future internal developments are hard to predict, it is clear that the crime rate will increase despite some evidence to the contrary. One policing alternative that has been suggested is the formation of six regional police forces outside London, although the present Metropolitan forces do not seem more efficient or offer better service than the majority of county and combined forces. But the future pattern of police organization and control will depend on political developments and decisions regarding local government. Furthermore, the British public does not support a national police force, as putting police resources into a central organization will take away from local policing funds. However, regional and serious crime units may be combined to avoid boundary problems that delay investigations. British police forces have worked to develop improved public relations; the most important attribute of a constable is generally thought to be good communications. Police have also entered the general debate over the nature of policing. One conclusion drawn is that, to maintain the present level of services, there must be a generous increase in police numbers. This shortfall should not, however, be filled by the private sector; that approach will lead to a major decline in public police services. The debate over the police function must continue through a Royal Commission or a wider, continuing, and structured debate.