THE BRITISH POLICE

Softcover. The police are a central institution of social control in Britain, yet surprisingly, at the time of this book's publication, they had remained largely unresearched by sociologists. The editor brings together the most recent findings at the time, and uses a wide variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives to study both the internal organisation of the police and their powers within the social structure. The authors examine the actual contrast of police work with the crime-fighting and social service aspects, the growth of police unionism and the public image of the police, fostered through co-operation with the press or portrayed in television series like 'The Sweeney' and 'Z Cars'. The collection includes a historical survey of the Metropolitan Police and a discussion of such topical issues as police/race relations and the police and the law. This book marshals much needed evidence on the characteristics of contemporary policing in Britain and at the same time explains the difficulties inherent in the role of the police in society, not least the fundamental question of how to control police action. With References, Notes on contributors and Index. 188pp. softcover. Lacks ffep, and has small bookseller's label inside fr. cover. Nr.Vg.