Police Street Powers and Criminal Justice - Policing in Practice

In this review of Police Street Powers and Criminal Justice, the authors Geoff Pearson and Mike Rowe present a sustained, evidence-based look at how police powers operate in practice. The book is aimed at students, researchers and practitioners who want a clear, ethnographic account of discretion and regulation; its single biggest reason to read is the depth of six years of fieldwork that reveals how time, place and supervision shape decision making. The open access nature also makes it widely accessible for teaching and reference.

Key Features

• Ethnographic depth: Six years of research across two English police forces provides granular, real-world examples of how powers are used day to day.
• Focus on regulation: The book maps how local policies and law interact with practice, helping readers understand where formal rules affect discretionary choices.
• Attention to supervision: Detailed discussion of supervision and monitoring highlights the role of managers in shaping frontline behaviour and legitimacy.
• Change and variation: Analysis shows policing is characterised by change and fragmented responses, so readers learn why reforms play out differently across stations and ranks.
• Open access availability: The CC BY-NC-ND licence ensures the edition is freely accessible for study and classroom use without paywall barriers.

Who It's For

This book is best suited to academic readers and graduate students in criminology, policing studies and public policy who need a detailed empirical account of police discretion and regulation. It is also valuable for policy makers and training officers seeking evidence on how local procedures and supervision influence frontline decisions.

Practitioners looking for quick operational guidance or a how-to manual should look elsewhere; this is an analytical, research-driven account rather than a step-by-step training text. General readers without an interest in policing scholarship may find the ethnographic detail dense.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rich empirical evidence from sustained fieldwork offers credible, grounded insights into police practice.
• Clear linkage between law, local policy and everyday decision making makes the book useful for researchers studying regulation.
• Open access licensing broadens availability for educators and students, supporting wider use in teaching.

Cons

• The book is analytical rather than practical, so it does not provide operational checklists for immediate use.

Specifications

Title	Police Street Powers and Criminal Justice
Authors	Geoff Pearson, Mike Rowe
Scope	Six years of ethnographic research in two English police forces
Focus	Utilisation, regulation and legitimacy of police powers
Availability	Open access edition under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence
Topics covered	Discretion, supervision, local policy, law, change in policing

Our Verdict

Police Street Powers and Criminal Justice is a strong, evidence-led resource for scholars and policy makers who need a nuanced account of discretion and regulation in policing. Its value lies in the depth of ethnographic research and its clear treatment of how supervision and local policy shape practice, making it good value as a teaching and research text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book available for free?
Yes. The open access edition is published under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence and is available without charge.

Does it include practical policing guidance?
No. The book is an analytical ethnography focused on understanding discretion and regulation rather than providing operational procedures.

Who conducted the research?
The research was carried out by Geoff Pearson and Mike Rowe over six years in two police forces in England.