Customer Reviews
www.janes.com has the latest 12th edition with SOCAP updates - By: Chris, 02 Aug 2006 
An invaluable source for the new probationer/student constable but may be not enough for a more hardened officer. I have found this a great toilet read as a probationer & picked up some elements of law & offences not tutored at basic training & this has helped to broaden my knowledge base. However I rushed & bought this writing my namein the cover (never trust a policeman) only to find that the 12th edition is now available with the SOCAP updates & new gambling legislation amongst other additions. AMAZON are not yet selling it but it is at www.janes.com for £25. AMAZON did say i could return it to be fair but as I said, it now has my name all over it, DOH!
Errors, Ommisions... - By: , 24 Mar 2006 
Don't get me wrong, this book (well this version) is a good reminder of the 'need to knows'. That said, it does contain an awful lot of 'don't need to knows'. Coupled with the many many errors & ommisions, like on the first page of chapter 1, the words OFFENCE & ACT are missed off the Criminal Attempts definition, it only gets 2 stars from me... come on boys, surely your proof readers can do better than that.
Nothing on SOCPA (kinda relavent) - By: , 22 Mar 2006 Folks, like the previous old sweat has mentioned (and I say this with all due respect), please wait until a copy that IS up to date has been issued. This copy does not cover the Serious Organised Crime & Police Act 2005 which replaces COPPLAN & effectively changesin our powers of arrest. It's still useful as a referencein terms of legislation such as looking up Search Powers & Off Weap offences, Especially if your a Safer Schools Officer. I've got the 10th Edition & it does help as a quick reference & to clarify some of the legislation for those of you still doing exams at training school.
Wrongly advertised as up to date - By: , 08 Mar 2006 I am sorry to say that I have returned my copy & informed Amazon that this book's synopsis is wrong ie states is up to date with the new licensing act [ it is NOT it still talks about the old act ] & the Serious Organised Crime act [ it still talks about arrestable & serious arrestable offences ] all it states is that at time of going to press the legislation was notin yet ...............so if like me an officer of 15years & wanting an up to date idiots guide DON'T buy it as the new legislation we are working with now is NOTin it
A superb reminder - By: , 01 Sep 2003 
I had heard a serving colleague complain that this book was a bit dumbed-down as it had pictures & flow diagrams & so was a bit sceptical, but on the basis of others' good reviews I risked the £ & bought it. SUPERB! Glad I did so!
It will not get you through Training School. It will however remind you of all the main pointsin the definitions, with minor explanatory points throughout & covers pretty much everything. So it's an aide memoire rather than an in-depth text-book (try the Police Training Manual by Jack English for that!) but a good one & worth the money.
I actually found the lay-out made it easier to learn the definitions, rather than making it childish so I guess it partially depends upon your style of learning, whether you will like this or find it irritating. A very useful little book indeed.
