Recent Book: Lomax & Reynolds: Arrears Proceedings and Related Matters in the Magistrates' Court
| Author | R. M. Phillips |
| Published date | 01 April 1986 |
| Date | 01 April 1986 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X8605900214 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
to elected representatives other than the Home Secretary. However, a more
detailed examination of the author's contentions shows that in fact this book is
heavily biased and partisan.
In addition to dismissing the Tri-Partite control set up by the Police Act, the
author also severelycriticises the role of magistrates on police committees,
concluding that as they make up one third of a committee's number and nearly
always vote in support of the chief constable, they effectivelyform a permanent
opposition to any motion criticising individual actions.
The author then proceeds to totally reject the effect on police accountability
provided by Her Majesty's Inspectors, the courts, the police complaints authority
and even suggests that through the unfettered use of their discretion, chief
constables can even ignore the wishes of Parliament in the way that they interpret
and implement certain legislation. This particular argument is illustrated by the
way some police forces chose to have a period of cautioning and verbal warnings
only, on the introduction of the seat belt law.
The book is not a direct attack on the day to day accountability for their actions
by individual police officers, but is an attack on the executive power behind the
system of control of the police service. The author argues that the chief constables
supported by the Home Secretary reduce the role of the police committee to
nothing more than a "rubber stamp" exercise.
Some of the arguments put forward by the author are worthy of consideration,
however, she losescredibility by using too many old, one sided examples in
supporting her contentions. I found that reading this book was analogous to
watching an oft repeated movie on T.V. One felt that the characters and plot were
so well known that the end product lacked any impact.
The essence of the case put forward by the author is that effective control of the
police will only be achieved by the day to day operational accountability to locally
elected representatives. The local consultative committees set up by the Police and
Criminal Evidence Act are also written off as being ineffective, they amount to
consultation and not accountability.
This book makes interesting reading but would only beof direct benefit to those
who have a very wide academic interest in all aspects of the modern police service.
However, all police officers should be aware of the arguments currently being
employed by certain interested parties who wish to change the status quo for their
own political ends.
In view of the findings of a recent poll published in The Times on July I, 1985,
which placed the police at the top of the list of agencies responsible for protecting
civil liberties, I for one was left wondering on whose behalf the author was writing?
G. L. ELMSDEN
LOMAX &REYNOLDS:
Arrean
Proceedings and Related Matters in the
Magistrates' Court.
Chichester: Barry Rose (Publishers) Ltd. £19.50.
This book contains highly specific and detailed information concerning arrears
proceedings.
It
is written in a non-technical way with useful marginal annotations
of the relevant legislation.
A large section of this work is given over to civil debt, legal aid and other
matters on the periphery of police involvement and experience.
Chapters I and 2 are the only direct areas of relationship with a policing role.
These concern general provisions relating to the enforcement of finesetc. and
imprisonment and detention. Although written in a lucid fashion this part of the
book is covered in only 27 pages.
There are I II pages of text, with appendices of forms mentioned in the book.
There are the usual references to cases, statutes and statutory instruments in
tabular form.
A book which will interest those in prosecution offices. R. M. PHILLIPS
190
April
1986
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