The British police

1.

The British police

2.

Policemen are to be
seen in towns and
cities keeping law and
order, either walking in
pairs down the streets
("walking the beat") or
driving specially
marked police
cars.Once known as
'panda cars' because
of their distinctive
markings, these are
now often jokingly
referred to as 'jam
sandwiches' because
of the pink fluorescent stripe
running horizontally
around the bodywork.

3.

Britain has no national police force,
although police policy is, governed by
the central Government's Home
Office. Instead, there is a separate
police force for each of 52 areas into
which the country is divided. Each
has a police authority - a committee
of local county councillors and
magistrates.

4.

Policemen do not, as a rule, carry firearms in their day¬-to-day
work, though certain specialist units are trained to do so and can
be called upon to help the regular police force in situations where
firearms are involved, e.g. terrorist incidents, armed robberies, etc.
The only policemen who routinely carry weapons are those
assigned to guard politicians and diplomats, or special officers who
patrol airports.

5.

All members of the police must have gained a certain level of
academic qualifications at school and undergone a period of
intensive training.
Like in the army, there are a number of ranks: after the Chief
Constable comes the Assistant Chief Constable, Chief
Superintendent, Chief Inspector, Inspector, Sergeant and
Constable

6.

Etch police force has its own Criminal Investigation Department:
(CID). Members of CIDs are detectives, and they do not wear
uniforms

7.

Their job is to make sure that drivers obey the parking regulations. The
have no other powers - it is the police who are responsible for controlling
offences like speeding, careless
driving and drunken driving