Policing - new material (27)
01 December 1996
The equality trap Anthony Hall. Police Review 20.9.96. pp16-17. Unintentionally hilarious article on "the statutory enforcement of equality" in the police force that argues that "positive discrimination is now the order of the day". The author who recently retired from the Essex police mixes his metaphors marvellously: "While the service indulges itself in self- flagellation the quality of policing delivered is diminished by the continuous movement of personnel under these policies."
PNC: A users' guide Joe Thompson. Police Review 1.11.96, pp18- 19. This is the beginning of a 10-part series on the Police National Computer. Part 1 covers "Communications breakdown"; Part 2 "Searching by name" (8.11.96.); Part 3 "Marks showing intelligence" (15.11.96.); Part 4 "Source input documents" (22.11.96.) and Part 5 "Property File" (29.11.96.).
Playing politics with the law Graham Smith. Legal Action November 1996 pp8-9. Useful analysis of civil actions against the Metropolitan police between 1991-96 and as they become more numerous the Met increasing tendency to contest them. Smith demonstrates that these payments are not as Sir Paul Condon and the media have suggested isolated nor malicious but "are representative of a significant trend."
The 1996 British Crime Survey: England and Wales Catriona Mirrlees-Black Pat Mayhew & Andrew Pacey. Statistical Bulletin (Home Office) Issue 19/96 pp78. Sections on i. The extent of crime ii. Reporting to the police iii. Violent crime iv Burglary v. Cars and theft and vi. Fear of crime.
A criminal culture? Jim Carey. Squall No. 14 (Autumn) 1996 pp30- 35. Examines the recent history of "Travellers city kids raves and festivals" and the multi-tactical policing used to suppress them. Squall is available from PO Box 8959 London N19 5HW.
Lessons from tragedies: deaths in custody in the Metropolitan police district 1986-95: First report Deaths in Custody Working Group. Community-Police Consultative Group for Lambeth (July) 1996 pp53. This report followed the deaths of Brian Douglas and Wayne Douglas after "their families friends and many members of the public became concerned about the subject of deaths in police custody." It records 213 deaths in the Metropolitan district between 1986-1995 and includes 22 recommendations and a chapter on the suspension of police officers following a death in custody.
Constabulary watchdog Vicky Graham. Police Review 11.10.96, pp22-23. Bland interview with the new Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Peter Moorehouse in which he argues for a "greater use of informal resolutions" for complaints against the police. Also reveals that the PCA is prepared to compromise on freemasons in the police force.
Caught on camera Marjorie Bulos & Chris Sarno. Policing Today Vol. 2 no. 4 1996 pp42-44. This article looks at the proliferation of closed circuit television (CCTV) and assesses how police officers "can more effectively harness its potential."
Europol's Databanken in Politie & Internationale Samenwerking, Paul De hert. Vigiles: Tijdschrift voor Politie Recht no 3, 1996 p36-44. Paul de Hert a researcher at the Vlaamse Universiteit Brussels raises questions about whether Belgian privacy law allows for the provision of soft information to Europol: "specific legislation on analysis and application of soft information is lacking in Belgium."
Damages run deep when police are the villains Heather Mills. The Observer 8.12.96. Argues that punitive damages are important to curb police behaviour.
Parliamentary debates
Police Bill Lords 11.11.96. cols. 789-839 Police Bill Lords 26.11.96. cols. 123-194 Police Bill Lords 26.11.96. cols. 203-256 Police Bill Lords 2.12.96. cols. 469-528 Police Bill Lords 2.12.96. cols. 544-576