Seminar 1 - Best Police in the World? Learning Outcomes: . Discuss the view expressed by independent socialist MP John Burns "that the Metropolitan Police, after the City [of London] police, are the best police force in the world" · Consider whether there are two British policing models · What, if anything, is unique about the theory and practice of British policing? Reading 1: "A Typology of Nineteenth-Century Policing" by Clive Emsley, 29-44: · Draws contrast between British and European policing models. (30) . Notes how US adopted British-style policing, as did the Empire. (31) . Notes, in the mid-19th century in Britain, there were three types of police forces: Metropolitan, provincial and Irish. There were majorly varying levels of accountability between the three. (32) . Also identifies three types of French police: The Prefect Police (in Paris), the sergents des villes, and commissaire de police. (34) · Emphasises the possibility of tension between the forces in both nations. (34) · In France, the gardes usually received a negative press. (35) · "The Gendarmerie was a military body" (35) and has its roots in the old regime . In both, the three types can be called state civilian, municipal civilian, and state military and these three can often be identified in other European states too. (36-7) · Emphasises how, even in territories dominated by an absolutist military structure, police departments were subject to negotiation between central government and localities. (40) . "An overtly military police probably could never have been created in England itself even had the government so wished" (41) · Concludes police of Victorian England used violence, sometimes "indiscriminately and excessively" but weren't perceived as bad as American cops, French flics, or German bulles. Suggests this may be because, structurally, English society was less violent. Reading 2: "A Typology of British Police: Locating the Scottish Municipal Police Model in Its British Context, 18ttitti-35" by David Barrie, 259-277: · Critical developments in Scotland/Wales have often been overlooked and underplayed. (259) · Argues the Met influence, unlike the rest of neighbouring countries, had little effect in shaping police reform in Scotland. (261) . Initially, at start of 19th century, many medium and large sized Scottish burghs introduced local police reform legislation by their own initiative, not resulting from central direction in London. (262) These were "distinctively Scottish" e.g. had different powers of arrest than police in England. . Notes, however, they still did have much in common. (262-3) · Emphasies the Met model wasn't the only influence on other English police forces e.g. Manchester police studied and drew on Scottish practice (264-5) · Concludes one must not over-state different between Scottish and English police but they were very similar. (267-7) . Notes a dominant provincial model which emerged earlier in Scotland than England. (267) . Cots in the 19th century believed their system to be pioneering and took pride in the fact it was different to England's. (270) · Note convergence of English and Scottish practice as the 19th century