The Police Service
The Police Service is a fundamental agency of social control in the UK, responsible for maintaining law and order and reducing crime. Their primary aims and objectives include:
- Protecting life and property
- Preserving peace
- Preventing and detecting criminal offenses
To achieve these goals, the police work closely with communities and possess statutory powers of arrest, detention, search, and interview. These powers are primarily outlined in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984.
Definition: PACE 1984 - The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which provides the legislative framework for police powers in England and Wales.
The police service's working practices involve:
- Interviewing suspects, victims, and witnesses
- Conducting arrests
- Preparing crime reports and case files
- Presenting evidence in court
Funding for the 43 geographic police forces in England and Wales primarily comes from central government grants, allocated through the annual Home Office Police Grant Report.
Highlight: The police service operates under a Code of Ethics that sets exemplary standards of behavior for all employees in policing.
The police philosophy is guided by principles of accountability, fairness, and honesty. Standards of professional behaviour for police officers include honesty and integrity, as well as showing authority, respect, and courtesy.
Quote: "The code of ethics sets and defines the exemplary standards of behaviour for everyone who works in policing."
Police forces handle all types of criminality, with general duty officers responding to emergency and non-emergency calls. Specialized departments exist for specific areas such as anti-terrorism, royal protection, firearms, and drug-related crimes.
The police service has a broad reach, with 45 territorial forces across the UK: 39 in England, 4 in Wales, and single forces in Scotland and Northern Ireland.