Abstract
The objects of this research are: first, to explain some of the issues surrounding police accountability in the United Kingdom. Second, to make attempts in reconciling two opposing views as to whom police in the UK are accountable for? Third, to clarify the vagueness and ambiguous definitional concepts of the police constable, constabulary independence, and the use of police discretionary powers.
 The author investigated the following problems: lack of police proper accountability, vague and ambiguous meaning of constabulary independence constable oath of office, and the use of police discretionary powers.
 The main results of the research are: first, more clarity is needed as to whom is the British police accountable to? Second, a review of the current oath of office for police constable, the implementation of finding by previous committees set up by government: Lord Scarman, Rt Hon Christopher Patten, and Lord Nolan reports. Third, the monitoring of police officers' use of discretionary powers.
 The area of practical use of the research: is for all citizens, directly or indirectly affected by police and safer communities. Criminal justice students in higher institutions and criminal justice practitioners, government officials, and policymakers.
Highlights
Within the last hundred years, the British police have experienced some radical changes in both the legal framework and constitutional role of the police
Exparte Blackburn [1968] 2QB [11], is very important and very persuasive in understanding the concept of police accountability and issues relating to the concept of ‘constabulary independence’
Lugarsten [4] wading into the debate of police accountability argues that ‘a deep structural flaw in common law due to the failure to protect freedoms necessary for democratic participation in political life the protection of minority rights cannot be effective if it lived off and left to the courts’ The Scarman Report [12] states that accountability “renders the police answerable for what they do. Thereby it prevents them from slipping into an enclosed fortress of inward thinking and social isolation which would in the long term result in a siege mentality—the police in their fortress and the rest of us outside, unhappy, uncertain and insecure” The debate about police accountability reached its crescendo in the 1980s as a result of the policing of public disorder, in particular the Brixton disorders 1981, the Toxteth riots, mass disturbances in Moss Side, and the events at Broadwater Farm, Tottenham 1985 and the Miner’s strike 1984-5
Summary
Within the last hundred years, the British police have experienced some radical changes in both the legal framework and constitutional role of the police. Attempts to rework some legal changes and political practice have transformed both the doctrine of constabulary independence and police governance. Some of the concerns raised by citizens over the years have been that the oath of office of the constable does not show that the police serving the people but the crown. Police accountability in the United Kingdom has been a consistent and fiercely debated issue, in some instances it places citizens in a state of dilemma as to whom does the police is accountable?[1]. The object of this research The first, to explain some of the issues surrounding police accountability in the United Kingdom. To make attempts in reconciling two opposing views as to whom police in the UK are accountable for? Third, to clarify the vagueness and ambiguous definitional concepts of the police constable, constabulary independence, and the use of police discretionary powers
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