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The police and keeping the law

Study note

The police have several key duties in the UK. Their job is to protect life and property, to prevent and detect crime, and to keep the peace so that people can go about their lives safely. Making new laws or running the government is not part of the police role; those tasks belong to Parliament and the government.

The police are organised into separate forces and are independent of the government, so ministers do not control day to day policing. At the same time, the police must obey the law themselves and are not above it. If someone believes the police have behaved wrongly, they can make a complaint, either to the police or to an independent body. For the test, remember the core duties: protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, and keep the peace.

Memory tip: Police protect people and property, prevent crime, and must obey the law themselves.

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Question 1 of 1

Which of these is a duty of the police in the UK?

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Show all questions and answers for The police and keeping the law(1 question with explanations)

The police and keeping the law: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Which of these is a duty of the police in the UK?

    • To prevent and detect crime and keep the peace
    • To run the government
    • To collect income tax
    • To make new laws

    Correct answer: To prevent and detect crime and keep the peace

    The police protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, and keep the peace.

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