Notes on the text

LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Read the text to find out new information about law enforcement in the UK.

TEXT 1

I.WARMING-UP

1. Answer the following questions:

UK Border Agency - служба прикордонного контролю Великої Британії

the Home Office -Міністерство внутрішніх справ

HM Revenue and Customs Державнеуправління Великої Британії з податків та митних зборів

SOCAслужба боротьби з організованою злочинністю

Police and law enforcement in the UK is part of the justice sector, which works to create and maintain a safe, just and stable society. The purpose of the sector is to reduce crime and re-offending, promote confidence in the criminal justice system, protect people and contribute to the reduction and fear of crime, and support the administration of justice. The sector employs around 600,000 employees in the UK across a range of organisations operating with different areas of responsibility.

Policing and law enforcement within the UK includes agencies responsible for: the maintenance of law and order; the prevention and detection of crime; and the reassurance and support for communities. Among them we should mention: territorial police forces (e.g. the Metropolitan Police Service); special police forces (e.g. the Serious Organised Crime Agency); non-police law enforcement agencies (e.g. UK Border Agency, HM Revenue and Customs); and miscellaneous forces, having a responsibility to police specific local areas or activities (e.g. ports, parks etc.) (look at the summary table below).

The oldest police force in continuous service is the Metropolitan Police Service, which was established in 1829. Until then, law enforcement had lacked in organization. As London expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries the whole question of maintaining law and order had become a matter of public concern. Parliamentary committees were appointed to investigate the subject of crime and policing. But it was not until 1829 when Sir Robert Peel introduced his police Bill, which led to the setting up of an organized police service in London. Later London police served as the model for modern urban police departments throughout the English speaking world.

Today the Mission statement of the Metropolitan Police Service is: "Working together to make London the safest major city in the world." The MPS also has significant national responsibilities such as co-ordinating and leading on counter-terrorism matters and protection of the British Royal Family and senior figures of Her Majesty's Government.

A new law enforcement agency - the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) - was created in April 2006 to tackle serious organised crime that affects the UK and its citizens. This includes Class A drugs, people smuggling and human trafficking, major gun crime, fraud, computer crime and money laundering. SOCA is sponsored by, but operationally independent from, the Home Office. SOCA’s main functions are:

· preventing and detecting serious organised crime and contributing to the reduction of such crime in other ways and to lessening its consequences; and,

· gathering, storing, analysing and disseminating information relevant to the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of offences, or the reduction of crime in any other ways, or the mitigation of its consequences.

Summary table Police and law enforcement in the UK (to be used in Ex.1 V Speaking).