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Originally published in 1985, Police and Public Order in Europe examines the development of the police in Western Europe and considers how police functions have changed over time. Each contributor looks at the experience of one country while having regard to the practices of the other countries.

The role of the police in maintaining public order had become increasingly important in the early 1980s. The activities of terrorists from both Left and Right in Italy, Spain and West Germany and the IRA in Great Britain had long been a focus of attention. However, in many ways a more disturbing phenomenon was the increase in the general level of popular unrest which had produced considerable rioting and looting in British cities as well as often violent confrontation between the police and an increasing range of protesters in other European countries. These events received wide media coverage at the time and the issue of public order was one of growing concern for governments, the police and the public. The role of the police in Western Europe was now firmly political.