In the late 1980s, the role of the police and their accountability to the community had been at the centre of much debate. Originally published in 1989, this important collection of original essays from the leading independent academic researchers on the police in Britain addresses the major issues in this debate. How far police behaviour is shaped by law; what the public expect of the police; how the police handle race relations; and how the police effectiveness can best be measured, are discussed in the light of the latest research. The central focus of the volume is the notion of ‘policing by consent’ and the way this is interpreted in practice.

The essays range from basic analyses of what the police do to major evaluations of recent policy initiatives, such as neighbourhood watch. The contributors discuss a range of issues, from new programmes for police training to the role of chief constables. Written in a form accessible to students of policing and police officers, Coming to Terms with Policing sheds light on trends at the time and suggests new directions for policing policy.