GCSEHistoryEdexcelRevision NotesCrime & Punishment in Britain, c1000-Presentc1900-Present: Crime & Punishment in Modern BritainLaw Enforcement in Modern Britain

Law Enforcement in Modern Britain (Edexcel GCSE History)

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Law Enforcement in Modern Britain - Timeline

law-enforcement-in-modern-britain-timeline

Law Enforcement in Modern Britain - Summary

Modern Britain has seen science and technology develop at a remarkable pace. These changes have increased both the range and complexity of crimes. They have also led to changes in police work. Police now have new and improved ways of responding to and handling crimes. The police force itself has also specialised. Officers are now trained to acquire expertise in specific areas.

Alongside catching criminals, police are now expected to do more to prevent crime. They do this by working with the public and encouraging community law enforcement. However, modern police still face criticism. Some believe they do not adequately represent the communities they police. This has led forces like the Met to pursue more inclusive recruitment policies.

Changes to Policing: New Science and Technology

  • Advancements in science and technology have changed and improved policing

  • The illustration below shows the impact of new science and technology on policing in modern Britain

IMAGE

An illustration showing the impact of new science and technology on policing in modern Britain

Changes to Policing: Specialisation and Representation

Specialisation

  • Modern Britain has seen an increased emphasis on police training

    • Before serving as officers, new recruits receive

      • Around 18-22 weeks of classroom training

      • Practical training

  • Every police force now has its own special branch

    • These branches respond to national terror and security threats

    • Officers in these branches receive specialised training in

      • Using tasers and firearms

      • Riding police horses or motorbikes 

  • There are several other specialist police units or squads

specialist-police-units

A diagram including some examples of specialist police units

Representation

  • Since 1900, representation in the police has gradually improved

  • The table below includes some examples of representation of certain groups in the police

Table of representation in the police force

Women

Homosexuals

Ethnic minorities

During the First World War, women in the police force were volunteers and matrons. After the First World War, women became official police recruits. Initially, they were not given the same duties or powers of arrest as their male counterparts. They mostly dealt with issues involving women and children. This changed over the following decades as gender equality increased

Between March 2016 and March 2020, the number of female police officers in England and Wales increased by 2.6%

Harry Daley was the first openly gay British policeman. He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1925, when homosexuality was illegal. Though he faced some discrimination at work, Daley considered his colleagues largely tolerant

There is now a National LGBT+ Police Network. It is made up of male and female police officers working towards equality, diversity and inclusion in the police

In 1968, Sislin Fay Allen became the first black female police officer in the Met and the UK. She decided to apply after seeing a recruitment advert for male and female officers

In 2020, 9.4% of Met Police officers were black or Asian. Since 2021, the Met has been aiming for 30% of its new recruits to be from ethnic minority backgrounds (excluding white minorities)

Community Law Enforcement and Neighbourhood Watch

  • Modern Britain has seen a return to community law enforcement

  • Unlike in the Anglo-Saxon era, community law enforcement is now voluntary

  • Neighbourhood Watch

    • Was set up at a time when crime was increasing 

    • Based on a similar scheme in the USA

    • It is now Britain’s largest voluntary crime-prevention movement

      • Around 2.3 million households in England and Wales are involved

the-main-aims-of-neighbourhood-watch

A concept map listing the main aims of Neighbourhood Watch

Changing Roles in Policing: Prevention

  • When police were first introduced, their role was to deter and catch criminals by

    • Patrolling the streets

    • Investigating crimes

    • Arresting suspects

  • Modern police have a similar role, but they also increasingly focus on crime prevention

how-modern-police-prevent-crime

A diagram showing some of the different ways in which modern police help to prevent crime

Worked Example

Explain one way in which new science and technology changed policing in modern Britain

4 marks

Answers:

  • In modern Britain, new science and technology changed how police caught criminals. (1) DNA and fingerprints became new forms of evidence for police to charge suspects (1)

  • This forensic evidence meant that police no longer had to catch criminals in the act to arrest them. (1) They could now use this evidence to convict criminals long after their crimes were committed (1)

Exam Tip

When talking about new science and technology, remember to mention how it changed police work (rather than only focusing on how it made it faster or more efficient)

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    Rosanna Killick

    Author: Rosanna Killick

    After graduating from Oxford University with a BA in History, Rosanna became a full-time, qualified tutor. She has since amassed thousands of hours of tutoring experience, and has also spent the last few years creating content in the EdTech space. She believes that a nuanced understanding of the past can help to contextualise the present. She is passionate about creating clear, accessible content that helps students to identify and select the most relevant facts and concepts for writing focused, persuasive exam answers.