Chapter 5  The Law, Police and Military of the UK

1.The law

The Sources of Law

Unlike many countries, the UK hasno core constitutional document. The constitution of the United Kingdom is theset of laws and principles under which the United Kingdom is governed.

The police

Thecommon nickname for a British policeman is Bobby, which means helpful andfriendly assistance on the streets. The modern police force was started in 1828in London with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police Force（伦敦警察署）bySir Robert Peel, then Home Secretary.

Scotland Yard

ScotlandYard is often used as a metonym for the Metropolitan Police Service of London,UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police

headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place,which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The ScotlandYard entrance became the public entrance to the police station.

The military

The armed forces of the UnitedKingdom, Commonly known as the British Armed Forces or Her Majesty's Armed Forces,and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, consists of a navy, anarmy, and an air force.

Their Commander-in-Chief is theBritish monarch, Queen Elizabeth ll and they are managed by the Defence Councilof the Ministry of Defence. However, the Prime Minister holds real authorityover the armed forces.