Timothy Brain. The Future for Policing in England and Wales

Abstract

The ‘Future for Policing in England and Wales’ continues the narrative from Dr Timothy Brain’s previous work, ‘The History of Policing in England and Wales since 1974: a Turbulent Journey’ and brings the story up to date discussing the reformation of policing by the coalition government of David Cameron. The book particularly focuses on the fundamental changes which have been pushed through by the current government since 2010. It looks back over the previous decade to explore the signs of the change of philosophy in the Conservative Party which were clear for those who were looking. Brain finishes by looking at the future for policing, though by the final chapter, the title has gained a question mark possibly signifying the uncertainty of any attempt to look forward, but also raising a question about whether the traditional style of policing actually has a future. Those familiar with Brain’s previous book will not be surprised that this work is very thoroughly researched and referenced. It recounts the changes from the view of someone who was affected by them as a senior police leader since 1994 and the Chief Constable of a provincial police force in England between 2001 and 2010. As such it makes no pretence of being dispassionate account of the changes being discussed. It is the view of someone who is committed to, and had been a close observer of, policing for many years and is concerned about the direction in which he sees it being pushed.