Recent Book: A Different World: Patterns of Metropolitan Policing
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X7905200421 |
| Date | 01 October 1979 |
| Published date | 01 October 1979 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
when the
annual
subscriptions
to the
Bulletins themselves is
O!
In the
opening
paragraph
of
his
introduction.
E.P.
Thompson,
an
historian
in a
libertarian
Marxist
tradition,
points
out
that
the
authors
have been at
care
not to
intrude
upon
the
text with
their
opinions.
Unfortunately
this
is
not
the case,
throughout
the
collection of articles the views
of
the
authors
are
readily
apparent.
The
establishment
in its
various
forms
is
subjected to an hostile analysis in a
number
of
areas
the
authors
have
decided to spotlight.
They
generally seem
to imply the
most
sinister of motives
and
loss of civil liberties behind the
majority
of
technological, legal or
administrative
measures
designed to
protect
or
improve
state
security.
A high percentage of the articles relate
to
matters
of interest to the police. i.e. the
Police
Computer,
the
Complaints
System
and
the
Prevention
of
Terrorism
Act. Included in
each
bulletin is a
'Background
Paper'
which has an in
depth
look
at a
particular
subject.
This
gives the
authors
an
opportunity
to voice
their
views
and
fears on such
matters
as
'The
Special
Branch',
'The
Politics of
Public
Order'
and
'Identity
Cards
in
War
and
Peace'. Whilst
undoubtedly
a lot
of
facts
and
figures
are
included
there
is a
tendency
to present the articles in
such
a
one sided
manner
that
they
can
lead to
conclusions
which
are
not
.always
justified.
The
tone
of the Review is set by
E.P.
Thompson's
rather
lengthy
introduction.
As an
historian.
he presents his views on
the
way the
State
has built up
such
an
effective defence to hide its security
workings. He describes
their
operators
as
being
"some
of
the
most
secretive
and
arrogant
to be
found
in the
modern
bureaucratic
states"
and
challenges
their
lack
of
accountability.
He seeks to
encourage
more
accountability,
less
secrecy, less
statism
(to use his
favourite
word).
The
arguments
he
puts
forward
lead
him to
conclude
that
the
state
and
others
in
authority
are
becoming
more
powerful
and
seeking new
curbs
on civil rights.
The
rising
crime
rate
or the increase of
terrorist
acts etc.
are
to be used as excuses
for
further
attempts
to
curb
the liberty of
the subject. It is to this type of
danger
that
"State
Research"
seeks to
sound
the
warning
bell.
The
police in
particular
come
under
very
close
scrutiny.
Whilst
acknowledging
they
perform
in
many
respects anecessary
and
worthwhile
job,
Thompson
feels
certain
specialist
departments
are
permeated
by
extreme
Right,
Fascist
or
even
National
Front
ideas
and
connections
and
the
means
of
democratic
control
over
the police are
wholly
inadequate.
It is
not
clear how
this
greater
control
should
be effected.
Does
he
mean
greater
Government
or
Parliamentary
control?
This
would
appear
to be the
most
feasible
answer,
but surely this would be an even
greater
step
towards
a'political police' which he
and
the
authors
of the Review so fear
and
detest.
It is
interesting
to see in a collection'
of
papers
covering
ayear, how
themes
occur
again
and
again.
The
Agee-
Hosenball
affair
features
in a
number
of
items, the Special Branch receives
regular
attention,
as
does
the police use
or
abuse
of
computers.
Perhaps
this
constant
'drip'
effect achieves the
necessary result.
One
draw
back
with a
Review
of
Bulletins
frequently
dealing
with
current
events
of
the previous year,
is
that
some
of the
information
is
out
of
date
.
.
Many
of
the
articles
show
considerable
research
and
attention
to
background
detail
and
the
Bulletinsthemselves
would
be
of
value to the
student
of
security, law
and
order,
or the police in
particular.
Anyone
putting
forward
an
argument
in
favour,
for
example,
of new
Public
Order
legislation or the
re-introduction
of
identity
cards
would
do well to
read
the
Background
Papers
to see
what
arguments
are
likely to be
put
forward
criticizing
such
moves.
Those
engaged
in
security
in its widest
sense,
should
be
aware
of the close
scrutiny
their
every
move
receives.
Indeed
this
is
not
a
bad
thing,
they
should
know
the way
their
critics
think
and
be
prepared
to
defend
and
justify
their
actions.
.
MOLE
ADIFFERENT WORLD
OSTROM.
PARKS.
WHITAKER:
Patterns
of
Metropolitan Policing
Ballanger
Publishing
Company.
Hardback
£11.65.
Anyone
who
has visited
American
country.
The
differences
are
not
always
Police Forces will, on
return
to
England,
understood.
This
book
may help the
have
many
tales to tell
about
the
different
confused observer. It
contains
a
broad
forms
of
police
organisation
in
that
overview .of the
current
organisations
of
4/0
October /979
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