Book Review: Blackstone's Police Manual: Crime 1998/99
| Author | Matt Long |
| Published date | 01 January 1999 |
| Date | 01 January 1999 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X9907200112 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
BOOK REVIEWS
BLACKSTONE'S
POLICE
MANUAL: ROAD
TRAFFIC
1998/99
Fraser Sampson
Blackstone Press Ltd, 1998
Softback £8.95
This is one of four manuals published by Blackstone Press and together
they replace the OSPRE candidate guide publications as the official
reference material for the English and Welsh Police Promotion
Examinations.
The manual is clearly laid out and well indexed. The author has
included the penalties for offences, powers of arrest, tables of stated
cases, statutory instruments
and
statutes. Additionally, there are
highlighted "key notes" that consolidate points for the reader.
There is sufficient detail contained within the manual to gain a good
knowledge of most traffic offences, and where necessary relevant
reference is given for future research to be undertaken. There is some
cross-referencing with the manuals in the series which can make
detailed study difficult if the complete series is not available.
Police officers who wish to study for the examination will need to
obtain the OSPRE Rule and Syllabus booklet which is normally
available through the Force Training Departments. It should also be
noted that for each examination the latest manual should be studied, and
there has been errata published. The publishers have offered a 30%
discount should an officer fail the examination.
This is an excellent reference book and is excellent value too - a
small price to pay for a manual that contains the pertinent traffic law on
the statute books for England and Wales.
Inspector
Jeremy
Huggins, BA, DMS
Training Manager, National Police Training -Shotley
BLACKSTONE'S
POLICE
MANUAL:
CRIME
1998/99
Fraser Sampson
Blackstone Press Ltd
Softback £8.95
Practical value, credibility,accessibility, clarity and comprehensivenessare
the five good reasons why all police officers should seriously consider
equipping themselves with a copy of thisexcellent textbook.
A continuous source of reference in terms of legislative requirements is
what this book should provide for serving officers throughout their careers
and in particular for those who are undertaking the Probationer Training
Programme and the OSPRE Police Examinations.The book should be seen
to be highly credible in the eyes of its audience in that Fraser Sampson's
work is the culmination of consultation with a number of Force Training
Managers and police officers who havethemselves had to translate sound
legal knowledge into a practical, everyday policing environment on a daily
basis.
The book is madeeasily accessible by the fact thatit contains a clearly
referenced Table of Cases and a similarly effective Table of Statutes for
officers in the position of quickly wanting to check the substance of a
January 1999 The Police Journal 91
To continue reading
Request your trial