MODULE 3

UNIT 2

	Text: British Police System.
	Grammar: Infinitive. Gerund.

BRITISH POLICE SYSTEM

There are 155 different police forces in Britain. Each of these forces is a separate body, independent of the others, and each operates only within its own area, under the command of its Chief Constable, and is administrated by its own local police authority.

Police is an agency of a community or government that is responsible for maintaining public order and preventing and detecting crime.

Police forces are composed of police officers. Police officers have the same rates of pay and the same conditions of service, and all are subject to the same code of discipline. Each of them takes the same personal oath of loyalty to the Crown and has the same power and authority under the law. Regular police officers usually serve for 25 years or more and then retire.

There is a hierarchy of ranks with regular grades of subordination – chief constables, superintendents, inspectors, sergeants and constables.

A constable has many powers and duties: he alone can arrest persons found committing certain offences and he can arrest on suspicion in certain circumstances, then he must under certain statutes accept an offender and bring him before a magistrate.

In matters of organisation and operation there is a little difference between one police force and another. Each police force has its own headquarters, in which the Chief Constable, his deputy and his staff work. All Chief Constables have common background of police work and a practical knowledge of police matters and problems.

Outside the headquarters, the police area is usually divided into territorial divisions, each under a senior officer. Namely here the performance of duties is arranged and reports of the offices on duty are received and considered. Below the divisional headquarters are the police stations, which form the first point of contact with the public.

Дата добавления: 2015-09-01