CHAPTER 5
AMERICAN AND BRITISH
POLICE MODELS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the chapter, the student will be able to:
Present the policing model in the United States of America;
Compare the different policing model in the United Kingdom
of Great Britain; and
Discuss the history and evolution of the various policing
models in the US and UK.
UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA
The current system of law enforcement in the United States is as complex as it is
varied. In many ways reflecting the tensions between the crime control and due
process models, as well as an overriding fear of too much power being placed in
the hands of a centralized, federal law enforcement entity. Representing the
largest segment of the criminal justice system, it has over 1 million employees.
Contemporary law enforcement agencies operate in a variety of levels within
local, state, and federal jurisdictions, or areas of responsibility. Although the
boundaries across levels would appear to be straightforward, since each enforces
the laws of its respective level, in practice the boundaries often are more of a gray
tint than a black-and-white tone. There is no direct order of authority with respect
to these jurisdictions. For example, in most cases federal law enforcement cannot
exert authority over local matters unless requested to do so by local authorities.
Each level of law enforcement has its own jurisdiction. These difficulties are further
fueled by the territorial nature of many law enforcement agencies.
TYPES OF US
POLICE SYSTEM
1. MUNICIPAL POLICE
These include village, township, city and county police
departments, sheriff departments, and a variety of special
purpose agencies like transit authority and housing
authority police. Typically, it has general policing duties for
their respective jurisdiction.
There are two subtypes of local police, namely:
a. County Sheriff Office - has jurisdiction over large areas and in charged
with the operation of a county jail, civil functions. such as service of eviction
notices and other court orders and police responsibility.
b . City Police - most common local police organization. It has jurisdiction
over matters that occur in an incorporated municipality.
And the varieties of local policing, to wit:
a. Legislative Style - rely upon the formal criminal law as a definition of
not only what situations merit their attention but in what manner they
should intervene. It is characterized by offices who issue many citations
and make asserts.
b. Service Style - treat every citizen complaint as requiring police
response. It is characterized by many police-citizen contacts but
relatively few citations and arrest.
c. Watchman Style - exercise considerable discretion in defining whether
a situation requires police response and what that response should be. It
is characterized by fewer officer-initiated contacts with citizens. It
emphasizes the peacekeeping function of policing.
2. STATE POLICE
Highway patrol who are typically given the task of
regulating traffic and maintaining order and safety on
state federal highways. In many States, part of its
broader mandate is providing general police service to
people living in unincorporated areas. Special
investigative agencies that concentrate on statewide
law enforcement is also one of the State Police's
functions.
3. FEDERAL POLICE
Police agencies supervised by the federal government
at the national level, which most of these have limited
responsibilities and do not provided general police
service to citizens
Some Federal Agencies having certain Police Functions:
a. Protection of Life, Property and Enforcement of Penal Statutes
(1) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI Department of Justice) - it investigates all violations of Federal Law except
those where enforcement authority has been specifically assigned to some other Federal Agency; also investigates all
cases of espionage, sabotage, treason and other matters pertaining to internal security.
(2) United States Secret Service (Department of Treasury) - concerned with chiefly investigating the counterfeiting,
forging, or altering of any of the money or other securities of the U.S.A.; also charged with the protection of the
President and his family; and of the Executive Mansion Grounds.
(3) Bureau of Narcotics (Department of Treasury) - investigates all violations of Federal laws relating to narcotic drugs
and marijuana.
(4) Bureau of the Chief Post Office Inspector - investigates mail losses, mail depredations, unlawful use of marks, and
other violation of the postal laws.
(5) Immigration and Naturalization Service (Dept. of Justice) - investigates violation of immigration and natural-ization
laws, patrols borders to prevent surreptitious entry of aliens, and registers and fingerprints aliens.
b. Protection of the National Revenue
(1) Intelligence Unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (Dept. of
Treasury) - concerned primarily with the investigations of violation
of income tax laws.
(2) Alcohol Tax Unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (Dept. of
Treasury) - investigates violation of internal revenue laws relating to
liquors.
(3) Division of Investigation and Patrol, Bureau of Customs (Dept. of
Treasury) - investigates smuggling activities and enforces customs
and navigation laws.
4. TRIBAL AGENCIES
At present, 556 tribal entities in 31 states are
recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as
native American Tribes. More tribes are located in the
Southwest than any other area of the Unites States,
and the largest of these is the Navajo Nation in
Arizona, Native American tribes are unique in that
they are self-governed.
5. PRIVATE POLICE
Secure additional police protection to private entities
by employing sworn public police officers through a
contract when they are not officially on duty for their
public employees.
Two Basic Forms in which Private Policing is provided:
a. Proprietary Security - the principal or person wishing to receive service, hires security personnel
directly.
b. Contract Security - the principal sent services from an independent security company.
Minimum educational qualification for a police officer in various cities, county and state agencies
is High school Diploma, or at least some college credits, or if necessary, College degree. Be at least
21 years of age, have a driver's license, or be eligible for one, have no prior felony convictions, and
pass a written exam, medical exam, and interview, physical agility test and psychological
screening.
RANKING SYSTEM COMMON TO VARIOUS STATES:
Chief of Police/ Police Commissioner/Superintendent/ Sheriff
Assistant Chief of Police/ Assistant Commissioner/Deputy
Superintendent/ Chief Deputy/ Undersheriff
Inspector/Commander
Colonel
Major/Deputy Inspector
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Detective/ Inspector/ Investigator
Officer/ Deputy/ Corporal
UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) consists of
a group of islands situated off the western coast of Europe. The UK is the
union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with English
being the official language.
As earlier stated, only the policing of England will be discussed because of
the legacy it left to the modern policing system. Likewise, Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland's have different policing, considering the uniqueness
of their legal system and history of freedom fighting respectively.
The population of the UK is in excess of 60 million people, and the capital
city is London in the south. More than 90% of the inhabitants are of
European ethnic origin, with the other main minority ethnic groups being
Afro-Caribbean, African, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Chinese. In
religious terms, the UK is predominantly Christian, but there are also large
communities of Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and Sikhs.
LEGAL SYSTEM OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM
Unlike many other countries, the UK has no written constitution. From the
10th century onward England has had a single crown, with her majesty
Queen Elizabeth II as current head of State. Parliament has been in
existence since the 13th Century, and since the 18th century legal power
has rested with parliament rather than the Monarchy. Parliament today
consists of: House of Lords - the upper chamber with both hereditary and
life peers; and the House of Commons - the lower chamber with elected
members.
The executive is led by the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with Parliamentary
elections being held at least every 5 years.
The derivation of English law is a combination of common law and
statute. Whereas the former has developed over time from the decisions
made by judges, the latter is where Parliament passes legislation.
POLICING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Early policing in England was characterized by localized, unsystematic practices
rather than a centralized system. In Saxon England, families formed groups called
tithings to police their kin. The Norman invasion in 1066 introduced some central
control with the establishment of Constables, who acted as local government
representatives but were often part-time and unpaid. The Statute of Winchester in
1285 sought to improve policing with the "Watch and Ward" system, and the Justices
of the Peace Act of 1361 made magistrates accountable to the crown. However, as
urban and industrial problems arose in the 17th century, this localized approach
proved inadequate, leading to self-policing and private police services in many
towns, including companies hiring their own patrols. Reform advocates like the
Fielding brothers contributed to early police developments, culminating in the 1829
Metropolitan Police Act introduced by Robert Peel, which established a uniformed
police force focused on patrol. This act resulted in the establishment of the
Metropolitan Police in London, along with County Forces, while smaller Borough
Forces eventually disappeared.
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
Metropolitan Police follows what they referred to as the Tripartite structure of policing.
As a mode of governance, this structure consists of power sharing arrangement
between the Home Secretary of the Central Government, Chief Constables of
Individual Forces and Police Authorities.
The Home Secretary could make regulations governing pay and conditions of service,
could approve certain equipment for police use, and could approve the
appointment of Chief Officers selected by police authorities. The Chief Constables
are made responsible for the "direction and control" of forces in terms of operational
matters; and Police Authorities are duty-bound to appoint senior officers and to
receive annual report in writing from the Chief Constables.
Policing is funded by both central and local government constituting 51% from the
central government and 49% from the local government.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
The Metropolitan Police is acknowledged to be
founded by Sir Robert Peel. It was affectionally called
"Bobbies" and the integration of River Thames Marine
Police Force formed in 1798 and Bow Street Horse Patrol
which was organized in 1805. It is a decentralized police
organization under the Ministry of Defense.
RECRUITMENT STANDARDS
The minimum age for a constable is 18½ years. There is no upper age limit for
applying to the police service; normal retirement age is 55 years, however.
There are at present, no minimum or maximum height requirements to join the
police force. While there are no formal educational requirements for
recruitment to the police, applicants have to pass two written test, which are
designed to ensure that they have a good standard of English. In addition to
this, there is a requirement to pass a math test. These math and literacy tests,
plus observation tests, form what is known as the Police Initial Recruitment Test.
After passing this phase of the selection process, candidates have to pass a *
physical fitness test, involving both strength and stamina. The third phase
ordinarily involves an assessment where candidates are tested by means of a
series of role-playing scenarios. The final stage is a panel interview with more
senior officers and civilian personnel officer, after which the candidate must
have criminal conviction checks and receive security clearance.
PROBATIONER TRAINING
Following the phases of recruitment, a period of extensive training
as a probationer constable commences. This ordinarily includes a
residential phase at a regional training center where core policing
skills are learned. In addition to this, time is spent with a tutor
constable with the intention that the probationer will gain valuable
practical operational experience. Tis phase is designed to
empower the probationary constable to gradually gain enough
confidence to be able to patrol independently. After further
training and assessment of performance, confirmation of
appointment to the office of Constable is conformed after a 2-year
period.
RANKING SYSTEM
Chief Constable
Deputy Chief Constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Chief Superintendent
Superintendent
Chief Inspector
Inspector
Sergeant
Police Constable
THANK YOU
