Does the UK Police Represent the UK Community They Claim to Serve - Coursework Example

DOES THE UK POLICE REPRESENT THE UK ‘COMMUNITY’ THEY CLAIM TO SERVE? Introduction In each and every country, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the economy of the country keeps on growing year after year. The economy of UK is among the top five economies that are doing exceptionally well in the whole world and is as a result of the peace and order that has been effectively maintained by the UK police. The government through parliament makes laws that govern all business activities conducted within the United Kingdom. The police are responsible for ensuring that all residents of the United Kingdom abide to the Acts of parliament. The law offenders are tracked down by police, arrested and taken to court by the police. Once they are found guilty, they have to pay the price and the judge is responsible for making judgment on how these should be punished. Those who are taken to jail will be in the hands of the police who ensure that they are well guided in jail so as to transform them into law abiding citizens. The main aims of the police are to ensure that all business activities within the country are run as required and that all residents of the country are safe from any harm. Generally, the responsibility of the UK police is to ensure that all Acts of parliament are abided to. The reason why the Acts of parliament need to be safeguarded by police is because they facilitate a peaceful co-existence within the country and this is one of the major factors that positively influence economic development within the country. In this report, the researcher will attempt to investigate and analyze whether the UK government represent the UK ‘community’ they claim to serve. 1.1 Responsibilities of the UK police The UK police have a variety of responsibilities and duties that they are expected to execute in the best manner possible. The police conducts are closely monitored by the seniors who ensure that they work within the constitutions and abide to all the policies and regulations of the police force so that the UK ‘community’ can feel that they are being well served by the police. All their responsibilities are outlined in the constitution of the country and some of them are discussed below: 1.1.1 Duty to protect life Leishman, Loveday and Savage (2000), state that all police forces in different countries have a responsibility to protect the lives of all residents within their respective countries. They have to ensure that all residents live peacefully with each other and interact freely without harming each other. The police have to ensure that the right to life of all residents of the country is protected and no one is facing any threat of losing his life due to insecurity within the country. According to the UK constitution, the UK police have the responsibility to ensure that all residents of the UK are not physically, emotionally or spiritually harmed since it’s their duty to protect them. They have to maximize their powers to ensure that all those criminals that pose threat to lives of residents within the country are well dealt with. The police should use their own intelligence to track down such criminals and ensure they face the full force of law. 1.1.2 Duty to protect property Without the police force, the property of different people in a country would have high chances of being destroyed by criminals, either through fire or theft (Evans, 2009). Each and every citizen of UK has a right to own property within the country. One can own property through purchase, group or individual investment, given as gift or through inheritance within the country. It is the responsibility of the police to ensure that this right of citizens of the country is safeguarded. The UK police ensure that all properties of people living within or outside UK but located in the United Kingdom are well secured and safe from any form of damage. They are responsible for discouraging any form of property damage by establishing strict policies that fight property damage within the country. The constitution gives the police powers to deal with anyone who in any way destroys the property of his neighbor or any resident within the country (UK constitution). They should ensure that such a person faces the legal consequences outlined in the United Kingdom constitution and should come up with policies to educate the public on the importance of safeguarding their properties and those of neighbors. 1.1.3 Prevention of crimes The economic development of a country is usually highly threatened by the crime rate in the country (Kennison, 2002). Once the crime rate is high, the chances of economic development are low and when the crime rate is low, the possibility of a country’s economy developing positively is high. Therefore, the government in each country should ensure that crime rate within their respective countries is kept as low as possible. The police are responsible for ensuring that the crime rate in their countries is as low as possible. The public have to play a huge role in assisting the police minimize crime rate within the United Kingdom. The UK police are responsible for ensuring that the crime rate in the country is highly minimized so that all economic activities within the country flow smoothly through the help of the public (Newburn, 2009). After getting reliable information from the public on criminals that are possible a great threat to residents within the country, the UK police is responsible for tracking down such criminals and ensuring that they are punished appropriately in order to discourage repetition of criminal behaviors and to act as warning to the public. 1.1.4 Punishing law offenders The Statures are in some cases referred to as the legislation have to be abided to by all residents of a country. Anyone who breaks the law in any country has to be arrested by police so that he can face full legal consequences. Evans (2009) argues that the police have the responsibility to arraign them in courts so that the judge can decide on the best punishment for them according to the constitution so as to make them pay for their crimes and disturbance of a peaceful co-existence within the country. The UK police are responsible for ensuring that law offenders are punished according to the constitution in order to discourage repetition of such behaviors and minimize law offending within the country. By offending the law, offenders are seen to be threatening lives and a good living environment within the UK. They therefore need to be punished effectively so as to teach them a lesson and also show the public what they can expect if they break the law in any way. 1.2.5 Duty to fight bribery and corruption Bribery and corruption is a practice that is being fight by all government of different countries in the whole world. This practice is a threat to the economic development of a country and empowerment of citizens of the country (Pistoni and Laura, 2003). In most cases, bribery and corruption is mostly practiced in developing countries especially in Africa. It leads to the expansion of the gap between the rich and the poor. Although the United Kingdom is not among the developing country since it has already developed, it has legislation in place fighting this vice. The UK police are responsible for fighting any form of corruption and bribery within the United Kingdom. Any single person found guilty of the vice is punished dearly according to the constitution. This is very vital in maintaining a corrupt free country so that all citizens and residents of the United Kingdom enjoy equal opportunities and treatment in sectors of the country. 1.1.6 Fighting discrimination and racism Discrimination and racism contributes highly to lack of peace within a country. It causes conflicts among residents of a country and these conflicts may in some cases lead to bloodshed and deaths. All the governments in the whole world are working hand in hand to fight discrimination and racism so that good relationships between different people from various countries can be established. In the UK, there is legislation in place to fight any form of discrimination and racism within the country. Peter (2004) argues that all residents of the country should be treated equally within the country and no one should be discriminated on the basis of his race, gender, religion, social class or age according to the constitution of the country. The UK police have the responsibility to fight these vices in the country. Those people arrested for racism and discrimination are punished appropriately in order to discourage discrimination and racism practices in UK. The UK police have to respond immediately and appropriately to any complaints of racism and discrimination since these practices threaten peace within the United Kingdom which may affect the economy of the country in many different ways. 1.1. 7 Ensuring that illegal business does not exist in the country In almost all countries, illegal businesses are discouraged and fought accordingly. The countries have strict policies in place to ensure that business organizations conduct their activities in the right and lawful manner. Owners of illegal businesses are arrested and their business organization closed down. In the United Kingdom, there is legislation in place to fight existence of illegal business. These businesses include activities such as operating without a license and sale of harmful drugs for example cocaine and bhang. It is the responsibility of the UK police to ensure that all business organizations are formed and operating legally. These business organizations should produce quality products and services that are both consumer and environmental friendly (Newburn, 2009). The production strategies that are applied in these organizations should not in any way pollute the environment. The UK police have the responsibility to conduct a routine check on all business organization within the country so as to protect consumers from exploitation and any form of harm arising from consumption of goods and services. Owners of those organizations that are found operating illegally face the full force of law and are used an example to warn investors who may be tempted to trade unlawfully within the United Kingdom. 1.1.8 Controlling traffic Without police in the roads to command traffic, jams will never end. The traffic police play a very instrumental role in ensuring that activities in the roads flow smoothly and appropriately. A lot of people lose their lives as a result of road accidents. The UK police play a huge role in safeguarding the lives of all citizens and residents in the United Kingdom. Road accidents are minimized by the policies and efforts of the police hence contributing significantly to the reduction of United Kingdom’s death rate (Nyamori, 2000). The UK traffic police are responsible for ensuring that all motorists abide to the traffic rules in order to facilitate smooth operations in the roads and to minimize accidents that arise from drink and driving incidents, overspending and driving on wrong lanes. Incase road accidents increase in the country, the senior traffic police face the heat and this motivates them to put strict policies, rules and regulations that ensure that all motorist abide to the traffic rules or risk facing tough consequences that they will regret in future. 1.2 Analyzing performance of UK police The UK police have been successful in ensuring that the lives of residents within the United Kingdom are protected accordingly. This is as a result of research done on the UK mortality rates. The findings indicated that the death rate in the United Kingdom is very low and the police was highly commended for their huge contributions toward protecting lives of people in the country. Roslender (2005), states that the UK police have strict policies in place that facilitate protection of the lives of the UK residents and citizens. They have effective plans and strategies in place that they use to acquire confidential information from the public concerning individual that pose a threat to the lives of citizens and residents. The UK police through its intelligence track down such individuals and ensure they face the full force of law. This promotes protection of citizens and resident’s lives within the country. McLaughlin (2008) argues that United Kingdom attracts potential investors due to the good security enforced in the country. This shows that the UK police are doing their job appropriately and investors are interested in trading in the country since they have confidence concerning protection of their property and lives. The police protects the all the property within the United Kingdom regardless of the owner since it is their responsibility to do so. All those people who are arrested because of damaging properties of fellow colleagues are arrested and taken to courts (McLaughlin, 2008). Regardless of age, social class or gender, all those who cause damages to properties are punished accordingly as it is outlined in the constitution. The UK police work hand in hand with property owners to safeguard all properties within the borders of the United Kingdom. According to Evans (2009), the United Kingdom is doing exceptionally well when it comes to development of its economy. The low crime rate has boosted the confidence of potential investors and business persons within the country (Pistoni and Laura, 2003). Robbery within the country has been handled accordingly by the UK police and there are less robbery cases in courts since robbery incidents are minimal. The UK police work hand in hand with the public to track down criminals. Those criminals that are arrested by the police are arraigned in court in order to face the full force of the law. The UK police supports community policing that has hugely helped and reducing crimes in most parts of the country. the minimization of crimes in such parts has promoted economic development in those parts and this shows that the UK police are playing a huge part in ensuring that the interest of the UK ‘community’ are protected accordingly. In UK parliament, MPs have been in the front line commending the UK police for the good job they are doing for the citizens and residents of United Kingdom. Laws made by the UK parliament need to be safeguarded so that peace and good practice exists in the country. The UK police have the responsibility to ensure that all residents and citizens in the United Kingdom abide to these Acts of parliament. The residents of the country abide fully to the Acts of parliament since the UK police have strict policies that fight law offending within UK (Peter, 2004). All law offenders are punished accordingly as outlined in the constitution of the country in order to be an example to the public and make offenders pay prices for their unlawful conducts. This minimizes law offending practices in the United Kingdom hence creating a good living and working environment in the country. Bribery and corruption is a huge threat to development of a country’s economy and empowerment of the country’s citizens and residents. In the UK, the vice is being fought effectively by the UK police (Newburn, 2009). The police use it intelligence to track down senior officials in the government or private sectors that are practicing bribery and corruption. Those that are arrested are arraigned in courts and the police ensure that they face full legal consequences in order to minimize such practices in the United Kingdom. The police have been successful in fighting corruption and bribery in the country since there are fewer cases of such practices in the country. Newburn (2008) argues that discrimination and racism play a huge part is disrupting peaceful relationships within a country. These practices give rise to conflicts that result to bloodshed and deaths. The UK police maximize its abilities and power to fight such practices within the country. They have strict policies and regulations in place that ensure all citizens and residents of the United Kingdom are treated equally and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his gender, age, color, social class or origin. The police respond quickly to all matters concerning such practices and those found guilty are punished thoroughly in order to discourage such vices in the country. According to recent research conduct by Harvard University, road accidents have significantly reduced in the past three years. The traffic policies were praised for the endless efforts to ensure that all motorists abide to the traffic rules and regulations set in place (Nyamori, 2000). This simply shows that the UK police are not in any way sleeping in their jobs and they deserve credit for almost if not meeting the needs of the UK ‘community’ they serve. Conclusion From the above discussions, I can conclude that the UK police represent the UK ‘community’ they claim to serve as required. The police does all they can as required by law to protect lives and properties of its citizens and residents. This has given business people confidence to invest in the country, hence leading to exceptional development of the country’s economy. They ensure that all law offenders face legal consequences outlined in the constitution in order to discourage breaking of laws within the country. The UK police have been able to lower crime rate within the country by fighting all forms of crime within the country appropriately with all their abilities, thus showing that they represent the UK community as expected. All criminals in the country are punished according to the constitution of the country and no one is spared in the process. The UK police have represented the UK ‘community’ they claim to serve by ensuring that any form of corruption and bribery is discouraged within the country. Those found guilty of bribery and corruption are punished thoroughly so that the pay heavily for these immoral and unlawful practices. Discrimination and racism practices as discussed above are threats to existence of peaceful relationship between residents and citizens in the United Kingdom. The UK police have played a huge role in ensuring that all residents and citizens of UK are treated equally and no one is discriminated against. References Evans. K., 2009. Measuring government performance, UK. Sage: London Kennison. P., 2002. Policy diversity: Managing complaints against the police. The Police Journal. 75, pp. 117-135 Leishman. F., Loveday. B. and Savage. S., 2000. Core issues in policing. 3rd edn. London: Longman. McLaughlin. E., 2008. The new policing. Sage: London Newburn. T., 2008. The handbook of policing. 2nd edition. Cullompton: Willan publishing Newburn. T., 2009. Policing-Key readings. Cullompton: Willan publishing Nyamori. R. O., 2000. Community policing: Revisiting the Agenda. Working Paper. Massey Peter B., 2004. Strategic security planning: the emperor’s new clothes. Community Policing Research. 7, pp. 347-366. Pistoni. A. and Laura Z., 2003. Comparative security management in Europe: an undergraduate education perspective. The European Research Review 9, pp. 285-319. Roslender. R., 2005. Managing security in the locality: Responding to the Crisis in community policing. British Journal of Research. 6, pp. 45-57. Read More