Recent Book: They Too Need Protection!: The Protection of Wild Birds
| Published date | 01 January 1980 |
| Date | 01 January 1980 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8005300119 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
SUE
TITUS
REID:
Crime and Criminology. 2nd edition.
Holt Saunders. £10.00
Since Howard Jones' Crime and the
Penal System. the only comprehensive
British criminology text to be written in
recent years, went out ofprint a variety of
readers have been published but none
cater adequately for the individual who
wishes to study criminology system-
atically.
Sue Titus Reid's book, now in its
second edition and having been
considerably
revised,
provides
a
meaningful approach to the study of
criminal behaviour and societal reaction
to that behaviour by integrating law with
the social sciences.
Although written primarily for
Americans (there are some references to
British authors) whole sections are
relevant to crime in this country. By
summarising and providing critiques of
the classic books of criminology,
analysing recent sociological research,
and drawing attention to major
sociological
theorists,
who have
contributed significantly to the study of
crime, Professor Reid reveals both
knowledge and scholarship.
Interspersed throughout the book are
excerpts from appellate opinions to
illustrate such conceptsas deterrence and
punishment and to reveal the role of the
courts in the reform of the criminal
justice system. For the U. K. reader it is
interesting to try and fit decisions of the
British courts into the framework.
The police merit a chapter in which
most of the major researches are
considered. The chapter on judges and
lawyers is most penetrating and
highlights the deficiencies of the
American legal system. A most readable
text. KEN RUSSELL
THEY TOO NEED PROTECTION! •
R.
PAUL
DAVIS,
BA.
M.Phil. University of Cambridge: The Protection
of
Wild Birds.
Barry Rose. £1.25
This is a book of general interest to
persons concerned, or interested, in wild
bird preservation.
It
is not a law book
and for police officers generally it will
have little practical use, except perhaps
where Mr. Paul Davis outlines a few of
the lacunas in the law which may be of
assistance when collating evidence to
support aprosecution under The
Protection of Birds Act. The subject is
approached under four
headings:-
I. The rationale and nature of conser-
vation legislation.
2. Integrated policy in a private
organisation (explaining the work
and aims of the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds).
3. The discretion to prosecute in a
private enforcement department.
4. The practical difficulties of enforcing
the Acts in Magistrates Courts.
One of the aims of Mr. Paul Davis isto
give Magistrates a better understanding
of the reasons and necessity for bird
conservation and to bring to their
attention the fact that it appears that they
do not always equate the penalties they
impose with the nature of the offence
committed
and.
the reasons behind
creating
the legislation; i.e., the penalties
imposed are not great enough.
The Police generally receive a gentle
chiding for lack of expertise and
involvement
in
investigating
and
prosecuting offences under the Acts.
although the author isfair in pointing out
the difficulties facing them.
Mr. Paul Davis has utilised the willing
services of the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds in obtaining
interesting statistics relating to prosecu-
tion and related penalties imposed by the
judiciary. Also. a breakdown of offences
reported showing the progress of
investigations for the years 1976 and
1977 is included. He outlines the work
and functions of the Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds in a very able
fashion which reinforced my already
high opinion of this organisation.
This
isa
book then in which the author
has succeeded in his attempt to place the
problems of wild bird conservation
before his readers in an interesting and
understandable manner.
A.W.e.
UPST AIRS, DOWNSTAIRS
BERNARD
TAYLOR:
'Cruellv Murdered'.
Souvenir Press: £6.50
What a refreshing exercise. to re-live a trial and conviction of an offender. Of
murder where the author is not relying on recent times, there has been a plethora of
public sympathy and wall slogans to sell such books and. of course, the ones that
a book dealing with a well-known. recent make the headlines and sell to a fickle.
90 Police Journal January 1980
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