British Law Enforcement Authorities Quiz

Answer: Kew Constabulary

The Kew Constabulary consists of just 15 officers. They have full police powers on the estate of Kew Gardens and for three miles around it. They rarely have cause to exercise these powers as any sizeable crime is handled by the Metropolitan Police.

They perform more of a security ranger service.

In 2002 they purchased a £14,000 electric buggy complete with blue flashing lights and a top speed of 10 m.p.h. It is however rarely used as the officers have grown tired of the ridicule the public aims at them when using it.

If you had answered "Royal Botanic Gardens Constabulary" then you would have been correct in 2004. However the current formal title of this small force is Kew Constabulary.

The "Borough Parks Police" are park rangers who are sworn in as constables. They are based at Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth, Epping Forest and Newham with a sum strength of around 121 officers.

"The Royal Corps of Gardens Police" is fictitious.

Answer: Port of Liverpool Police

Firstly my apologies to any Liverpool based officers reading this. "Rozzers" is an affectionate name given by Liverpudlians to any police officer and seems unique to Liverpool in its usage.

The correct answer is "Port of Liverpool Police" - the rest are fictitious.

The "Port of Liverpool Police" is Great Britain's newest police service having been established in 1975 although policing of some form or other has been in place for around 200 years.

The remit of this force is to police some 70 square miles of docks around Liverpool, Birkenhead and Bootle which all abut the river Mersey. The force is just 46 officers in strength all of which enjoy the same powers, bestowed by the Crown, as any other British police officer.

Base source of information: http://www.portofliverpool.police.uk/

Answer: The Broads Authority

The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, commonly called "The Broads", is an area of some 330 square kilometres of rivers, shallow lakes and marshes on the eastern side of England. It is home to much water borne tourist activity and to much protected flora and fauna.

The "Broads Authority" is statutory body responsible amongst other things for policing this area. Officers in uniform patrol the area by launch making sure that navigational licensing requirements are met, that the environment is protected and that the public are safe. Although not dedicated police officers the authority maintains a close liaison with the Norfolk and Suffolk police.

Base source of information: http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/index.html

Answer: N.H.S. Counter Fraud Service

The "N.H.S. Counter Fraud Service" is a part of the governments Department of Health. Headquartered in London, it has eight teams dedicated geographically around England.

It has a responsibility for the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud and corruption insofar as it impacts on the N.H.S.

In the last five years they have investigated over 1900 cases and this has led to the prosecution of 216 criminal cases and a further 275 civil or disciplinary proceedings (2007 figures).

Base source of information: http://www.cfsms.nhs.uk/index.html

Answer: Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Formed in 1954, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary is responsible for the production and research into atomic weapons, civil nuclear energy and nuclear clean-up.

The Constabulary police sites that are officially licensed as nuclear sites operated by U.K.A.E.A., British Nuclear fuels plc and U.R.E.N.C.O.

The policing also includes the protection of nuclear fuels in transit.

Headquartered at Abingdon the force has seven operational units across Britain.

Base source of information: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/index.htm

Answer: B.T. Security Investigation Services

B.T. evolved in 1984 from the Telecommunications division of the Post office. The former Post Office Investigation Department formed the nucleus of the detective capability that has expanded and developed to become a world leader in telecommunication related crime with a seat on T.U.F.F. (Telecommunications U.K. Fraud Forum). This body is a means by which telecom operators in the U.K. can share crime related information and mutually combat the massive financial frauds that can beset the telecommunication providers.

Based in Milton Keynes, B.T. Investigation Services investigate and prosecute crimes committed against the B.T. Group and its customers. They work closely with the Police Services both in the U.K. and overseas.

It is one of the few corporate crime investigation agencies to be listed in the official "Police and Constabulary Almanac".

Base source of information: personal knowledge

Answer: I.R. Special Compliance Office

The "Inland Revenue Special Compliance Office" investigates fraud where taxation is concerned. The majority of their cases are settled by means of tax payment plus any interest and penalties. The more serious cases are prosecuted at criminal court.

Base source of information: http://www.spencerfellows.co.uk/sco_investigation.htm

Answer: B.B.C. Security and Investigation Services

"B.B.C. Security and Investigation Services" is one part of a larger security network within the corporation and is in place to combat all criminal threats to the company.
They cite their focus as being upon; "Fatality, injury, programme and service loss, damage to property, loss of repute, and financial loss", presumably in that order of priority.

In viewing a programme in the comfort of your home it is not likely that one considers that people may be sufficiently enraged by the subject material of a certain programme as to be motivated to strike back at the corporation producing it. Consider the news team and the dangerous political, racial or religious arenas that must be reported upon.

Yes, sadly even Auntie Beeb needs security in the modern world.

Base source of information: http://www.bbc.org.uk/ohss/main.asppage4863.htm

Answer: Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit

The "Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit" (D.C.P.C.U.) was set up in 2002 to investigate organised crime in the arena of cheque and credit card fraud. It is financed by the British banking industry and is a useful combination of both police and banking expertise.

The unit claims to be saving the industry £100m per annum.

Base source of information: http://www.dcpcu.org.uk/

Answer: Royal Mail Group Security

The Royal Mail employs 193,000 people, which equates to around 1% of the British working people. It handles 84,000,000 items and delivers to 27,000,000 different addresses daily.

With the handling of so much mail, much of it valuable, there is a real need for in-house security. Crime, typically theft, is dealt with by Royal Mail Group Security who are headquartered in London.

Base source of information: http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm