Book review: Brownlie's Law of Public Order and National Security
| Author | Grant Wardlaw |
| DOI | 10.1177/000486908301600420 |
| Published date | 01 December 1983 |
| Date | 01 December 1983 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
BOOK REVIEWS
287
general
(photography, note taking, crime scene sketching, searching, interviewing).
Almost one half of
the
book presents techniques which can be
employed
in
the
investigation of particular crimes ranging from theft and burglary to
robbery
and
criminal homicide.
All too frequently US publications do not relate to non-American markets.
The
Australian
reader
of Criminal Investigation
must
be mindful of
the
differences in
the
rules governing search
and
seizure, questioning of juveniles and obtaining samples
from a suspect'Sbody. Some aspects of
the
criminal justice area are obviously foreign
to
our
own (eg adultery is listed by
the
authors as a crime), whilst in
others
the
emphasis is simply inappropriate (eg dying declarations may be a common
occurrence
in a country
where
a
murder
is committed every 24 minutes
but
are exceedingly
rare
in
the
Australian context).
A
brief
description is given of
the
technological aids (eg polygraph) available to
police investigators (Australia excluded) in non-technical language. Gadgetry, science
and
specialists though playing an increasingly
important
role in criminal
investigation, are recognized for what they are: sources of information for
the
investigator. Most crimes will continue to be solved through information collected by
police-public interaction. "Boot-leather", it seems, remains amost valuable
investigative resource in criminal investigation. RBAYLEY
Melbourne
Brownlie's Law of Public
Order
and National Security, 2nd edition, Michael
Supperstone. London, Butterworths (1981) lvii &415pp, $80.50.
Approximately 15 years age Professor Ian Brownlie published his excellent
book
The
Law
Relating to Public Order. Much has transpired in the intervening years,
particularly in Great Britain - the focus of the work. A number of serious threats
to public order arising from social, political and economic causes has given rise to
arenewed debate about appropriate ways of allowing dissent and controlling public
disorder. In addition, the increased incidence of terrorism or terrorist-related
events has had a marked impact, both on legislation and law enforcement.
The
increasing involvement of the security and intelligence community in countering
political and otherforms of violence has also made a study of national security issues
vital to any serious consideration of the subject of public order.
In his new edition of Brownlie's work, Michael Supperstone has admirably taken
account of the developments of the last decade. As the title indicated, he has
expanded the subject matter to consider national security as it relates to public
order. In so doing, he has produced the only comprehensive text concerned with
this vitally important subject.
This second edition goes far beyond a mere updating of materiaL New chapters
have been included on picketing, freedom of expression and assembly in the United
States, official secrets, and the debate over the need for a Bill of Rights.
Other
chapters have been substantially rewritten and the order of chapters has been
changed. New legislation such as the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary
Provisions) Act 1976 is discussed and extensive reference is made to the Official
Secrets Act 1911-1939 and to other laws pertaining to the interception of
communications, security procedures in the public service, the security service,
deportation, and aliens. The core of the book remains a comprehensive
examination of the law relating to freedom of expression and assembly, and
offences' against public order. The re-organization of the work brings a reappraisal
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