Description:
This book considers police leadership and the role of Chief Constables from 1835 to the present day, the factors affecting their leadership, management and ideology and how these impacted upon the organization and operation of their forces.
Review Quotes:
'This collection of essays is a timely re-evaluation of the role and practice of the most senior police officers. Seen as an "impossible job" by many, the essays in this book describe the historical and modern contexts of the people who negotiated the changing policing landscape. It will be of great use and interest to political researchers as well as historians and criminologists.'
Professor Barry Godfrey, Vice-President, Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, China
'This collection will, I am sure, become the essential reference work for police scholars seeking to understand the historical context of the role of Chief Constable. The editors and contributors have delivered an excellent balance of essays that provide much to advance our understanding of police leadership whilst simultaneously providing a highly engaging account of the shifting social and political contexts which shaped police organisations and their leaders.'
Dr Tom Cockcroft, Head of Criminology, Leeds Beckett University, UK
'There has been remarkably little historical exploration of police leaders in the UK and their relations with the police authorities. The essays here go a long way towards addressing the vacuum. Moreover, given the advent of PCCs and the debates about the varied tasks of policing, the collection is timely.'
Clive Emsley, Emeritus Professor, Department of History, Open University, UK
'The editors have assembled a team of authors who reflect the cutting edge of research on the ongoing issue of the tensions between autonomy, professionalism and accountability in police leadership. The coverage of the entire British Isles provides invaluable insights into the topic as a whole. The long chronological scope allows the past to be considered both in its own terms, and as a source of inspiration for those grappling with the problems of the present.'
Dr Chris A. Williams, Senior Lecturer in History, Open University, UK