FROM THE START OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BRITISH ARMY AND THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, THERE WAS AMBIGUITY ABOUT ARMY FUNCTIONS AND ALSO ABOUT THE ENEMY. THERE WAS AN EXTRALEGAL DIMENSION TO MILITARY ACTIONS. THE SPECIAL POWERS ACT IN NORTHERN IRELAND, SINCE REPLACED BY THE EMERGENCY PROVISIONAL ACT, ENABLED SOLDIERS TO SEARCH HOUSES ALMOST AT WILL, TO ARREST MEN AND HOLD THEM FOR LONGER PERIODS THAN WOULD BE ALLOWED IN BRITAIN, TO DRAW UP MASSIVE INTELLIGENCE FILES, TO CARRY OUT SPYING OPERATIONS IN PLAIN CLOTHES, AND TO ASSIST IN THE INTERNMENT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT TRIAL. THE EFFECT OF CONTINUING VIOLENCE UPON POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND LED THEM TO QUESTION THEIR ROLE. IN 1972, THERE WERE 9,872 COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE IN ENGLAND AND WALES. IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THERE WERE FEWER COMPLAINTS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE SMALLER POPULATION IN THAT COUNTRY. ALTHOUGH THE EFFECT OF VIOLENCE UPON THE POLICE AND THE ARMY HAS BEEN IN THE SHORT TERM, ONE OF FUNCTION AND ROLE, THERE ARE OTHER COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO THE COURTS AND POLITICAL DECISIONMAKING. WHAT THE POLICE AND THE ARMY IN NORTHERN IRELAND LACK IS A SPECIFIC SET OF LEGALLY DEFINED GROUND RULES FOR OPERATIONS. THE DISTRUST THAT HAS BUILT UP AGAINST SECURITY FORCES IN THE PROVINCE HAS BEEN CAUSED AS MUCH BY SUSPICION OF FORCE ACTIVITIES AS BY MISBEHAVIOR AND UNACCEPTABLE POLICIES ADOPTED BY POLICE AND ARMY OFFICERS. BRITISH CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW ALL CONDITIONS AND RULES UNDER WHICH THEY MAY BE INTERROGATED, ARRESTED, IMPRISONED, OR EVEN KILLED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR STATE. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)