This third edition of the popular and highly acclaimed text, The Politics of the Police, has been completely revised and updated to take account of recent and profound changes in the law, policy and organisation of policing. The Police and Magistrates Courts Act 1994, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the Police Act 1996 and the Public Order Bill have all had a major impact on policing in the UK during this period. The social and political context has also changed dramatically - not least with the election of a Labour government after 18 years of Conservative rule. All these factors have lead to a profound shift in the nature of policing. The author has retained the book's three-fold structure, covering the history of the police, the sociology of policing and the law and politics of the police. There is also and examination of the complex and highly-charged debates surrounding policing, including the various controversies and developments which have lead to a change in the public's opinion of the police in recent years - from the violent conflict of the miners' strike in 1984-85 to the Macpherson report on the Stephen Lawrence case in 1999.In addition, durrent proposals for reform are analysed and others proposed. This clear, insightful and up to date review of a complex and contentious subject will be essential reading for all those concerned with policing, whether students, researchers, or professionals.