THE FIRST PORTION OF THIS ESSAY DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL AND THE TYPE OF CONTROL WHICH IMPLIES ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COURTS HAVE BOTH, ON OCCASION, CLAIMED THEY HAD ULTIMATE CONTROL OVER THE POLICE. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL FLOWS FROM THE HOME OFFICE, BUT ACTUAL PRACTICAL CONTROL LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE 43 DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS. IN BRITAIN, HOWEVER, TRUE CONTROL OF THE POLICE LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE. THE HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ENGLAND IS TRACED FROM THE 24-HOUR-A-DAY, UNPAID CONSTABLES OF THE MIDDLE AGES, THROUGH THE MARINE POLICE INSTITUTION OF 1798, AND ON TO THE METROPOLITAN POLICE ACT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CITIZENRY HAS DELEGATED LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY, THE PUBLIC ULTIMATELY CONTROLS THE POLICE. (GLR)