3. Structure of the American and British Police

Policing in modern American society takes a number of different forms. On a national scale, there are several different types of police agencies, each with its own jurisdiction and special functions. The major types of police agencies can be divided into three major branches of government: federal, state, and local /city and county/ The federal law enforcement system includes such well known agencies as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Park Service, Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspector, and many more. Law enforcement on the slate level includes the state police or highway patrol, drug control agencies, investigative bureau, and others. At the level of local government the police agencies are the largest law enforcement group These agencies include municipal /or city/ police, county sheriff s offices, constables and village police departments.

Municipal police departments, which are the heart of the entire police system, have their own organizations with several different divisions, each with specific functions. In most departments there are four major divisions: 1. field operations /patrol, investigation, traffic, youth divisions, special operations, etc./; 2. administrative services / community relations, planning, etc./; 3. technical services / communications, records, etc./; and 4. inspectional services /internal affairs, intelligence, etc./.The most famous Federal Government Agency un the U.S. is the Federal Bureau of Investigation – the F.B.I. The fingerprint collection of the F.B.I., is now the largest in the world. A crime laboratory was established to make examinations for the F.B.I., and to serve as a scientific clearing – house for evidence and crime problems submitted by police forces throughout the country. This laboratory is the largest and the best equipped in the world.

Scotland Yard is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police in London. To most people, its name immediately brings to mind the picture of a detective - cool, collected, efficient, ready to track down any criminal with complete confidence that he will bring him to justice, or a helmeted police-constable - that fami­liar figure of the London scene and trusty helper of every traveler from overseas.

An interesting branch of Scotland Yard is the branch of Police Dogs, first used as an experiment in 1938. Now these dogs are an important part "of the Force. One dog, for example, can search a warehouse in ten minutes, whereas the same search would take six men an hour.

There are two other departments of Scotland Yard - the Witness Room (known as the Rogues' Gallery) where a photo­graphic record of known or suspected criminals is kept, and the Museum, which contains murder relics, forgery exhibits and coining moulds.

The popular nickname of the London policeman "bobby" is a tribute to Sir Robert Peel, who introduced the police force in 1829, and whose Christian name attached itself to members of the force.

4. British system of Government, Monarch and his functions

The legislative branch is in the hands of the Queen and the Parliament (which is the House of Lords and the House of Commons).

The executive branch is represented by the Government — the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister. Her Majesty’s Government governs in the name of the Queen.

The legislative and the executive branches are combined by the Queen. In fact, the Parliament is controlled by the executive branch, as all the bills pass to the Parliament by the decision of the majority party.

Judicial system is represented by courts. So there is practically no separation of powers. The majority party has the real power in the country.

At the end of the election the Queen appoints the Prime Minister (PM). Normally the leader of the party who wins the election becomes the PM.

The office of the Prime Minister was introduced in 1720’s. The first PM was Robert Walpole.

The PM chooses about 20 Members of Parliament from his or her party to become the Cabinet of Ministers (or simply the Cabinet), they are called the Secretaries of State. The Ministers are almost always the members of the Commons, also a few are Lords. Cabinet meetings are held in private while the Parliament is sitting.

The British Parliament is of great significance in the political life of the country. It consists of two Houses (or Chambers): the House of Lords and the House of Commons.