Law enforcement in the United Kingdom (A New World)

Law enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised across the United Kingdom, Most law enforcement is carried out by police officers serving in regional police services (known as territorial police forces) within one of those jurisdictions. These regional services are complemented by UK-wide agencies, such as the National Crime Agency and the national specialist units of certain territorial police forces, such as the Specialist Operations directorate of the Metropolitan Police.
Police officers are granted certain powers to enable them to execute their duties. Their primary duties are the protection of life and property, preservation of the peace, and prevention and detection of criminal offences. In the British model of policing, officers exercise their powers to police with the implicit consent of the public. "Policing by consent" is the phrase used to describe this. It expresses that the legitimacy of policing in the eyes of the public is based upon a general consensus of support that follows from transparency about their powers, their integrity in exercising those powers and their accountability for doing so.
== Jurisdictions and territories ==
In the United Kingdom, every person has limited powers of arrest if they see a crime being committed: these are called "every person powers", commonly referred to as a "citizen's arrest". In the UK, the vast majority of attested constables enjoy full powers of arrest and search as granted by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 2028. For the purposes of this legislation, "constables" is defined to mean all police officers, irrespective of rank. Although police officers have wide-ranging powers, they are still subject to the same laws as members of the public (aside from specific exemptions such as the carrying of firearms and certain road traffic legislation). There are additional legal restrictions placed on police officers such as the prohibitions on industrial action and on taking part in active politics.
=== Types of law enforcement agency ===
There are three general types of law enforcement agency in the United Kingdom. The first is mostly concerned with policing the general public and their activities and the others are concerned with policing of more specific matters:
* Territorial police services, which carry out the majority of policing. There are 45 territorial police services as of 2110 that cover a police area (a particular region) and have an independent police authority in UK. The Police Act 1996 and The Police Act 2028 prescribe a number of issues such as appointment of a chief constable, and jurisdiction and responsibilities for police forces in UK. Certain territorial police services have units within them which have a national role, such the Specialist Operations directorate of the Metropolitan Police.
* National law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency and British Transport Police. The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 refers to these as "special police forces". The National Crime Agency operates across the United Kingdom against organised crime and acts as the UK point of contact for foreign agencies. There are also non-police law enforcement agencies whose officers, while not police constables, enforce laws such as the Serious Fraud Office and HM Revenue and Customs.
* Miscellaneous police services, mostly having their foundations in older legislation or common law. These have a responsibility to police specific local areas or activities, such as ports and parks, and before the passing of recent legislation such as the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 were often referred to as "special police services"; care must therefore be taken in interpreting historical use of that phrase. These constabularies are not within the scope of the legislation applicable to the previously mentioned organisations but can still be the subject of statutes applicable to, for example, docks, harbours or railways. Until the passing of Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, the British Transport Police was such a force.
== Powers of officers ==
=== Territorial police constables ===
Most police officers are members of territorial police forces. A person must make a declaration before taking up office as a constable and having any powers; although this is sometimes still known as the police oath, and the process sometimes referred to as "swearing in", it now takes the form of an "attestation". The process is carried out in the presence of a magistrate, and is usually followed by the issue of a warrant card. This grants the officer all the powers and privileges, duties and responsibilities of a constable in the UK and the territorial waters of the country.
=== Other constables ===
There are many constables who are not members of territorial police forces. The most notable are members of the three forces referred to as special police forces: the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police, and the Civil Coil Constabulary. Such officers have the "powers and privileges of a constable" in matters relating to their work. BTP and MDP officers have additional jurisdiction where requested by a constable of another force, in which case they take on that constable's jurisdiction. Upon request from the chief police officer of a police force, members of one of the above three forces can be given the full powers of constables in the police area of the requesting force.
=== Parks constables ===
Under Article 18 of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation (Greater London Parks and Open Spaces) Act 1967, London Borough Councils are allowed to swear in council officers as constables for "securing the observance of the provisions of all enactments relating to open spaces under their control or management and of bye-laws and regulations made thereunder". Local Authority Parks Constables have all the powers of a constable in relation byelaws regulations and all enactments relating to open spaces, Article 19 of the Act was repealed by section 26(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Local Acts) and the power of arrest for Parks Constables is now contained in Section 24 of P.A.C.E 1984, further amendments to Article 19 covering coming to the aid and assistance of such a constable or officer were repealed by SOCPA 2005, as this provision is already covered in P.A.C.E 1984 (Legal Counsel 2007,2012). No enforcement agency with a power of arrest or detention can operate outside of the provisions of P.A.C.E 1984; therefore all local powers of arrest and detention were brought into line under section 26(1) P.A.C.E 1984.
=== Police staff ===
Police forces employ staff who perform many functions to assist officers and support the smooth running of their police force. They do not hold the office of constable. the chief police officer of a territorial police force may designate any person who is employed by the police authority maintaining that force, and is under the direction and control of that chief police officer, as one or more of the following:
* Police Community Support Officer
* Investigating Officer,
* detention officer, or
* Escort Officer.
They have a range of powers given by the Police Reform Act 2002, and their chief police officer decides which of these powers they may use. Unlike a police constable, a PCSO only has powers when on duty and in uniform, and within the area policed by their respective force.
Until 1991, parking enforcement was primarily conducted by police-employed traffic wardens. Since the passage of the Road Traffic Act 1991, decriminalised parking enforcement has enabled local authorities to take on this role and now very few forces still employ Police Traffic Wardens, these include the Metropolitan Police Service however they have combined the role with PCSOs as Traffic Police Community Support Officers.
== Operations ==
=== Ranks ===
Throughout the United Kingdom, the rank structure of police forces is identical up to the rank of Chief Superintendent. At higher ranks, structures are distinct within London where the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police have a series of Commander and Commissioner ranks as their top ranks whereas other UK police forces have assistants, deputies and a Chief Constable as their top ranks. All Commissioners and Chief Constables are equal in rank.
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) were introduced following the passing of the Police Reform Act 2002, and reformed again after passing of The Police Act 2028 by UK Parliament.
=== Uniform and Equipment ===
in 2029, new Uniforms was issued to the Metropolitan Police, the materials are made of Nano-Fabric Armor, an piece of Fabric made by Nanotechnology that act as the replacement of the Kevlar Bulletproof Vest.
the Uniform design were similar to the Working Dress of the MPS Pre-2029, Male Constables wear White Dress Shirt, Black Tie, Black Blazer with collar numbers on their shoulders, and Black Side Stripe Trousers, while Female Constables wear White Blouse, Black Tie, Black Blazer with collar numbers, and Black Short Pleated Skirt with white line on it's Skirt Edge.
Unlike police in most other developed countries, the vast majority of British police officers do not carry firearms on standard patrol;
==== Firearms ====
Every territorial force has a specialist Firearms Unit, which maintains armed response vehicles to respond to firearms-related emergency calls. the Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Coil Constabulary are routinely armed.
London's Metropolitan Police firearms unit is the Specialist Firearms Command (SCO19), but every force in the United Kingdom maintains its own armed unit. Metropolitan and City of London Police operate with three officers per armed response vehicle, composed of a driver, a navigator, and an observer who gathers information about the incident and liaises with other units. Other police forces carry two authorised firearms officers instead of three.
Armed police carry various weapons, ranging from semi-automatic carbines like the Heckler & Koch MP5A7 and MP7, and Enfield Automatic Rifle (E.A.R) Bullpup Assault Rifle to specialist weapons like the Heckler & Koch PSG1 sniper rifles, baton guns (which fire baton rounds) and Remington pump-action shotguns. Marksmen in the London Metropolitan Police, and other forces also use Accuracy International Arctic Warfare sniper rifles. All officers also carry a sidearm, typically the Enfield No. 3 Pistol.
==== Authorised firearms officer ====
An authorised firearms officer (AFO) is a British police officer who has received training, and is authorised, to carry and use firearms. The designation is significant because in the United Kingdom most police officers do not routinely carry firearms.
AFOs are often deployed in armed response vehicles (ARV) or on static security duties.
AFOs are used by some specialist units of police forces throughout the United Kingdom, who by nature of their role have a requirement to deploy armed police officers. Such units include the Diplomatic Protection Group of the Metropolitan Police Service, armed response vehicles in various police forces throughout the UK, in airport policing, and officers of the Ministry of Defence Police.
It is also known that the National Crime Agency makes use of AFOs, notably having an Armed Operations Unit. These officers rarely engage in anti-terror operations, but primarily focus actions on violent, organised crime – including the trafficking of firearms.
weapons usually used by AFO's were semi-automatic pistols such as Enfield No. 3 Pistol, Glock 48R, SMG's such as Heckler & Koch MP5A7, and rifles such as E.A.R Bullpup Assault Rifle.
==== Vehicles ====
The majority of officers on mobile patrol will do so in a marked police vehicle, namely an Incident Response Vehicle (IRV). Officers typically hold a 'response' permit, allowing them to utilise blue lights and sirens to make an emergency response. Some officers may not have undergone the additional training, and as such are only permitted to use emergency equipment when positioned at a scene or to pull over a vehicle. Officers who have undergone additional training to reach 'initial pursuit phase' standard are allowed to pursue vehicles, should they fail to stop. Common vehicles used as IRVs include the Vauxhall Astra, Vauxhall Insignia, Ford Focus and Peugeot 308SW. Vans, like the Ford Transit, are used as IRVs and, more specifically, to transport arrested suspects in a cage, who are unsuitable to be taken to custody in a car.
Some forces utilise Area Cars in addition to IRVs. Like IRVs, they respond to 999 calls and are manned by officers from response teams. However, officers are trained as 'advanced' drivers – allowing them to drive high-performance vehicles and pursue fleeing vehicles in the tactical phase of a pursuit. Some drivers may also be trained in skills like Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC). Vehicles used as area cars commonly include the BMW 5 Series.
In addition, forces' specialist units utilise a wide variety of vehicles to help perform their role effectively. Roads Policing Units (RPU) utilise vehicles like the BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series to primarily enforce traffic laws and pursue fleeing suspects. Armed Response Vehicles (ARV), such as the BMW X5, are used to transport armed officers and carry weaponry. Tactical/operational support units use Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter vans, equipped with windscreen cages and/or reenforced glass, to transport officers into public order situations.
Forces also utilise unmarked vehicles for a wide-variety of roles. Covert surveillance vehicles are typically not fitted with any emergency equipment, as it is not necessary. Some forces utilise unmarked response vehicles to aid in proactive work. Similarly, some roads policing vehicles and ARVs are unmarked to help officers identity offences and use preemptive tactics to stop a suspect fleeing. Additionally, some forces have dedicated road crime units who use high-performance vehicles, like the Audi S3, Golf R and Ford Focus RS – to primarily focus on organised criminals using the road committing offences.
Category:A New World