In every modern civilization, the role of police has a significant importance. Policing has undergone an evolutionary process to develop to the well-established agencies that are existent today (Purpura, 1997). Police are tasked with maintaining public safety, enforcing laws, apprehending offenders and testifying in courts (Wilson, 2012; Purpura, 1997). Though the functions of police are the same across the board, the laws that govern how they administer themselves and enforce the law are quite different. The following compares the difference between the police system in United States and that of England. In addition to this, it analyzes the difference in gun policy in both countries.
Comparison of England’s and the United States Police Structure …show more content…
British gun reforms were motivated by mass murders such as the Hungerford Massacre of August 1978 (Leitzel, 2003). This particular incident led to the Firearms Amendment Act that extended the list of banned weapons and increased registration requirements for other weapons. The stringent laws are all to reduce the likelihood of a gun getting into the wrong hands. Police officers in each part of the UK, England, Scotland and Wales have separate licenses for shotguns and other firearms (Casciani, 2010). Before a gun is issued, the British police have to check the Police national Computer criminal record. They also have to speak to the gun applicant’s doctor to find whether there person is an alcoholic, drug abuser or socially disorderly. Police officers can revoke certificates if they feel a gun holder cannot be trusted. Also, the gun is required to have a secure location in the house, which is normally an expensive case. To intensify gun control laws, temporary gun buyback program were instituted which took tens of thousands of illegal guns out of supply. The Snowdrop petition banned handguns with some
Comparison of England’s and the United States Police Structure …show more content…
British gun reforms were motivated by mass murders such as the Hungerford Massacre of August 1978 (Leitzel, 2003). This particular incident led to the Firearms Amendment Act that extended the list of banned weapons and increased registration requirements for other weapons. The stringent laws are all to reduce the likelihood of a gun getting into the wrong hands. Police officers in each part of the UK, England, Scotland and Wales have separate licenses for shotguns and other firearms (Casciani, 2010). Before a gun is issued, the British police have to check the Police national Computer criminal record. They also have to speak to the gun applicant’s doctor to find whether there person is an alcoholic, drug abuser or socially disorderly. Police officers can revoke certificates if they feel a gun holder cannot be trusted. Also, the gun is required to have a secure location in the house, which is normally an expensive case. To intensify gun control laws, temporary gun buyback program were instituted which took tens of thousands of illegal guns out of supply. The Snowdrop petition banned handguns with some