The Role And The Role Of The Police Service

The role of the police service is to “uphold the law fairly and firmly; to prevent crime; to pursue and bring to justice those who break the law; to keep the Queen’s peace; to protect, help and reassure the community; and to be seen to do this with integrity, common sense and sound judgement” (Saulsbury; Newburn 1996, p.xii) to further protect the life, liberty and property of the people. The police are primarily responsible for covering activities such as catching criminals, maintaining public order, and to provide a balance between crime prevention and investigation to major issues such as terrorism and organised crime (Newburn, 2008). This should constantly be taken into account regularly by every member of the police force, as a guide to his own conduct. This essay will be highlighting and explaining the key roles of the police.

P. 70). Whilst there has been a significant expansion of the police role, the activities carried about are discussed in terms of three major categories. Firstly crime control which is responding to and investigating crime, patrolling the streets to prevent further offences from occurring. Secondly order maintenance, “preventing and controlling behaviour that disturbs the public peace, including attending and quieting loud parties when instructed to do so, settling domestic disputes and intervening in conflicts that arise between citizens” (John Howard 1997). To not only maintain order in public places but to further intervene and assist in private lives in the vent of family disputes, marital misconduct as mentioned by Shearing and Stenning 1987. Thirdly service, “the provision of a wide range of services to the community” (Griffiths & Verdun-Jones 1994. P. 70) Often as a result of the twenty four hour availability the police provide to citizens, which may include assisting in the search for missing