While there are some differences between the law enforcement systems in the UK, the US, and Germany, basically all three countries, democracies considered "Western" in politics, have a number of components and branches of responsibility that are similar. The UK, however, is different than Germany and the US because the UK has an essentially federal approach; all law enforcement agencies report to the "Home Office" in London. That system is evolving, however, as there is currently a movement in England to decentralize police powers and control.
Policing in the U.S.A., UK, and Germany
The way law enforcement and the criminal justice system does its work in the United States has more similarities than differences with the way in which law enforcement and criminal justice is conducted in the UK and in Germany. This paper points to the similarities and the differences in approaches to policing and criminal justice in those three countries.
Criminal Justice in the United States
The USA has a presidential system of government, with one federal constitutional institution (with three branches, judiciary, legislative and executive), and 50 separate states with their own constitutions. In terms of the criminal justice system in the U.S. -- and law enforcement's role in that system -- there are four kinds of policing: a) federal policing (U.S. Dept. Of Justice -- and several agencies within the DOJ -- the Dept. Of Homeland Security (Secret Service, Immigration, and the Coast Guard among others); b) state policing (most states have "state troopers" that cover highway safety, investigations, juvenile justice, etc.); c) city or local policing (in the roughly 30,000 incorporated cities in the U.S., each has a policing component; 61% of the sworn officers in the U.S. are local police); and d) county policing (virtually all U.S. counties have a sheriff's office -- 24% of all sworn officers in the U.S. are sheriff's deputies) (pp. 15-17).
Technologies Aiding Law Enforcement in the United States
Technology has made great strides over the last few years enabling law enforcement in the U.S. To apply "…a new generation of genetic technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, laser technology, satellite technology, sensors technology" along with "information technology" (18). These advances -- including digital technology/computers -- have helped law enforcement make huge strides in policing, crime control, sharing crime data, crime analysis, and the use of DNA technologies have provided the U.S. law enforcement community with remarkable tools. Indeed "computerized crime mapping" has become an enormous help to law enforcement in the U.S. And an estimated one-half of law enforcement agencies with 100 or more police officers are using computerized crime mapping to solve and even prevent crimes (23-24).
Neighborhood Policing in the United Kingdom
Unlike the U.S., there are no state or local police departments in the UK; in England the central government (a parliamentary system of government) handles all law enforcement responsibilities out of a centralized base. There are three law enforcement components in the UK: "Metropolitan Police Services" (based on London and called "Scotland Yard"; MPS covers 620 square miles); b) the Territorial Police Forces (these officers cover England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and while there are local governing bodies, they all report to the British Home Office and parliament); and c) the Special Police Forces (including Royalty Protection Branch, Anti-Terrorist Branch, Central Intelligence Agency; Counterterrorism Command, Aviation Security, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, among others) 34-36.
That having been pointed out, there is a movement in the UK to decentralize the law enforcement programs. There may be changes in the wind that will incorporate more community policing into the national system; and in that system, locally elected police supervisors will be more immediately relevant and accountable to towns and neighborhoods (38).
Super Policing in Germany
Meanwhile, in Germany there are three law enforcement components that are part of the system of criminal justice. One, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) (provides support to police forces in the states of Germany; the BKA is the central agency, conducts investigations internally and internationally, and provides protections nationally). Two, the Federal Police (BPOL) is an armed and trained "militarized police force for border control and internal security" (43). The BPOL also guards federal facilities, foreign embassies, aviation facilities and transportation agencies; and the BPOL investigates "violent political movements" (43). Similar to the United States, Germany has states and each of its 16 states has its own police service. Each of the individual states' law enforcement agencies has police that deal with traffic, criminal investigations, transportation facilities and waterways as well (44).
While this chapter doesn't present the technical competencies that have evolved in the UK and Germany to the same degree as the chapter covering technology advances in America, it is assumed that these modern western states are fully updated with the same or nearly the same advanced crime-fighting technologies as are found in the United States.
Similar Sex Offender Laws -- the UK, the U.S.
You’re 72% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.