Recent Book: The Politics of Criminal Law
| Date | 01 April 1992 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X9206500212 |
| Published date | 01 April 1992 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Recent Books
HALNANand W ALLIS. Wilkinson'sRoad
Tralflc
Offences.Published
by Longman. Price £225
It
is significant that such is the weight
of
the Road Traffic legislation
passed in recent years that a modestly sized, single-volume book, first
published in 1953, has now grown to a gargantuan tome in two volumes.
Its quality and value remain the same, however, and it will continue to be
used by police officers involved in the general run
of
traffic offences, as
well as road traffic specialists, with absolute confidence that its 'advice'
will be acceptedby the courts at any subsequenthearings. For that reason,
practitioners will fail to heed its contents at their peril.
Volume 1 provides the 'text', with its close attention to detail and
analyticalprecision, while themanner in which the editors use abbreviated
case law in the script, with suitable references, makes for interesting, as
well as helpful, reading. A new paragraph numbering system simplifies
the important aspect
of
cross-referencing, and certain restructuring and
rearrangement of the text has been made where considered necessary.
Volume 2 is the source provider and containsall the legislationrelating
to Road Traffic, including statutes, statutory instruments, European
Communitylegislationand international agreements. The lawis generally
stated as at January, 1991, although certain later S.I.s are included in this
volume, and reference is made to the new Road Traffic Act in volume 1
(preface). It is intended that an annotated text
of
the Act will be made
available free
of
charge to all purchasers
of
this edition.
With all the appropriate 'tables', a useful appendix on miscellaneous
matters and a wealth
of
case law, Wilkinson's Road Traffic Offences can
only be described as a reference 'par excellence' .
THE
POLITICSOF CRIMINALLAW. Reform in the 19th Century.
John
Hostettler. Published by
Barry
Rose.
Hardback
price £47
A book of high scholarship in which the author traces the development
of
the law in this country in the 19th century, weaving his way with skill
through the labyrinthine structures oflegal practices
ofthe
day, interlacing
the social, political and economic influences which played such an
important role.
The agriculturalbasis of society wasrapidly changingand the traditional
rulers
of
England, the aristocracy and landed gentry, were struggling to
maintain the statusquofollowing the impact
of
the American and French
revolutions. The criminallaw, for so long a tangled web
of
unwritten and
statute law designed to keep the people in subjection, came under close
examination as the desire for liberal social reform became widespread.
The century-long review
of
the law forms the basis
of
this book.
Drawing on the views and comments
of
reformers of this and past ages
the authordeals stringently with each important aspect
of
the law in need
186 ThePoliceJournal
April
1992
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