Routledge - The English Police: A Political and Social History

Explore the development of law enforcement through The English Police: A Political and Social History by Clive Emsley. This comprehensive work provides a detailed history of policing from the eighteenth century onwards, utilizing largely unused police archives to provide fresh perspectives on the subject. This book addresses major debates regarding the evolution of the force. It examines how legislation and policy shaped policing at both national and local levels. Readers will gain insight into the historical claims regarding whether the English police remained non-political and independent from political control. In addition to structural history, the text examines the human element by looking at the changing experience of police life over the centuries. Originally established as a standard introduction to the field, this revised Second Edition offers an updated and essential resource for anyone studying British history or social policy.