The duties and structure of the police service

In England and Wales there is no statutory definition of the duties and purposes of policing. It is commonly accepted that the Police should:

• prevent crime and disorder, extremism and terrorism;

• maintain law and order, and protect people and property against crime and emergencies (both natural and man-made);

• detect criminals of all kinds and play a part in the criminal justice system, guided and directed by the Crown Prosecution Service;

• provide road policing services; and

• by long tradition, serve any one who needs their help.

This last aspect in particular comes from the British tradition that the police service is to serve the public, not to control it on behalf of the Government, but that tradition is being diluted by the exigencies of the fight against terrorism. The style in which these duties should be performed is in the Statement of Common Purpose and Values published by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in 1992: ‘The purpose 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 all this with integrity, common sense and sound judgment. We must be compassionate, courteous and patient, acting without fear or favour or prejudice to the rights of others.