The British Police Experience

Abstract

We have pleasure in publishing an address given by H.M. Chief Inspector in connexion with the University of Michigan's “Programme of Continuing Education in Urban Affairs”. Sir Eric's special relationship with the United States goes back to his service as a Colonel on the late General Eisenhower's staff in 1943–44, when his deputy was that famous American police thinker and police chief, Mr. Orlando Wilson. In his introduction to the address, Mr. William C. Rogers, Director of the above Programme, remarked: “The European urban experience can offer us Americans new choices and options for handling our pressing domestic affairs. The Europeans have a lot to teach us. They had cities long before they had nations. They know most of the answers to how to lead the good life in an urban setting… Most of us place law, order and justice at the top of our list of urban priorities. We will concede that our police systems could do with improvement. What could be more natural than to get advice on our police problems from Great Britain, which pioneered urban police systems?”