From: Jeremy Peter Howells, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Not quite true the British police are and always have been an armed force (most of the time its been the staff - AKA truncheon - though the original Robert Peel constables carried swords). A quick look at the Police Act 1964 makes you realise that the laws and regulations applied to police officers are more akin to the military than the civil service or local government. Remember a Chief Constable exercises a lot of control on the life of any police officer, on or off duty. This includes authorising where they might live and even who they can marry! Let alone discharge of debts, etc. For many years the police have been part of our community however in more recent years the swing to a more 'militarised' or perhaps 'paramilitary' style of organisation, equipment and demeanour has occured. As a trainee constable I was always taught that we policed by consent, now in many areas the police appear to be almost policing by coercion, not that many yet but its spreading. I bet most gress roots police officers don't like it though even when I was a probationary PC there were some who regarded panda cars as reconaissance vehicles and the vans as troop carriers. Regards Jerry Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
