Police History: A Bibliography
| Author | Henry W. Parris |
| Published date | 01 July 1961 |
| Date | 01 July 1961 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X6103400409 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
HENRY
W.
PARRIS,
M.A.,
PH.D.
Hallsworth Research Fellow,
University
of
Manchester
Few subjects have been as neglected by historians as the Police.
Anyone studying the history
of
the 19th century in particular, when
the modern era
of
policing began, cannot fail to be struck by the
cursory treatment accorded to the new element in public security by
the most authoritative writers. We wereglad, therefore, to receive the
list
of
publicationsrelating to police history which Dr. Parris introduces
in the following article. It is we, believe, the only published list
of
its
kind.
It may be that other matter has been published in this field and we
shall be glad to print a supplementary list
if
any
of
our readers care to
send particulars (in the same detail as in the present list)
of
any
omissions, whether in book- or booklet-form or as articles in Force
or other magazines.
Pollee
IDstory:
A
Bibllography
THE FOLLOWING LIST is a by-product of research by the writer in
provincial police history. Its aim was to assess the effectiveness
of
the administrative machinery set up under the County and Borough
Police Act,
1856.
As readers will know, that Act provided for the
appointment of the first Inspectors of Constabulary and the payment
of grants to efficient forces.
"Efficient"
was defined in a narrow
sense to
mean"
satisfactory in numbers and discipline." Thus, a
force might fail to keep proper records or co-operate with other
forces yet still qualify for grant. On the other hand, there can be
little doubt that increased numbers and better discipline were the
most urgent needs at the time and the necessary foundation of
improvement in other respects. Most forces soon reached the
required standard but there was a class of chronically inefficient
boroughs which resisted the efforts of the Home
Office
for long
periods. When, at last, they too improved their police, it was
usually as a result of an outbreak of rioting; the incidence of other
crime seems to have been a comparatively minor factor. Another
point that emerged from research was that voluntary consolidation
of
boroughs with counties for police purposes was much more
286 July-August 1961
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