Police Force, Police Service: Care and Control in Britain

Description

British policing faces major decisions about its future direction. Should it promote itself as a police force, dedicated to the attack on crime and public disorder, or should it adopt the mantle of police service, devoted to providing reassurance, flexibility to community wishes, and care? These are the critical decisions that the police face. The choice made will have implications for all citizens in our society. Together, a panel of eminent contributors examine the issues involved in this choice. They push the debate forward and show how complex are the interconnections between care and control within British policing. The implications are far-reaching and will influence not only the quality of policing but also the quality of life for all of us.

MIKE STEPHENS is Lecturer in Social Policy at Loughborough University. He has published widely in the area of criminal justice, particularly on issues related to operational policing, police involvement with the mentally ill, and police training. He has studied police methods in the USA and Italy, as well as in the UK, where currently he is undertaking a major Home Office funded study of police leadership and training. SAUL BECKER is Director of Studies for the Master's degree programme in Policy, Organisation and Change in Professional Care in the Department of Social Sciences, Loughborough University. He has researched extensively on care issues and is a former social worker.