THE POLICE SERVICE IN GREAT BRITAIN CONSISTS OF 51 INDEPENDENT FORCES LINKED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MINISTERS, THE HOME SECRETARY (FOR ENGLAND AND WALES), AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND, HAVE AN OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LAW AND ORDER. EACH FORCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ITS OWN POLICE AREA, BUT THERE IS CONSTANT COOPERATION AMONG THEM. THE POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND IS ORGANIZED AS A SINGLE FORCE. THERE ARE 43 REGULAR POLICE FORCES IN ENGLAND AND WALES AND 8 IN SCOTLAND. OUTSIDE LONDON MOST COUNTIES HAVE THEIR OWN FORCES, ALTHOUGH SEVERAL MAY BE COMBINED FOR EFFICIENCY. THE STRENGTH OF GREAT BRITAIN'S REGULAR POLICE FORCE IS ABOUT 118,000; SIZES OF INDIVIDUAL FORCES VARY. THE OUTCOME OF THE POLICE AUTHORITIES DERIVES FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH A FORM OF LOCAL PROPERTY TAX AND VARIOUS OTHER LOCAL SOURCES. RECRUITS MUST BE OF GOOD CHARACTER, MUST SATISFY MINIMUM PHYSICAL STANDARDS, AND MUST HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS WHICH VARY ACCORDING TO THE FORCE. A POLICE OFFICER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IS AN INDEPENDENT HOLDER OF PUBLIC OFFICE AND EXERCISES POWERS AS A CONSTABLE. ALTHOUGH HIS CHIEF OFFICER HAS VICARIOUS LIABILITY FOR ANY WRONGFUL ACT HE MAY COMMIT, HE HIMSELF MAY BE SUED OVER HIS OWN WRONGFUL ACTS. POLICE OFFICERS NORMALLY DO NOT CARRY FIREARMS, ARE REQUIRED TO DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES BY PERSUASION AND WITH TACT, AND MAY ONLY USE FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSE OR TO RESTORE ORDER WHEN ALL OTHER MEANS HAVE FAILED. THE MAIN DEPARTMENTS IN ALL POLICE FORCES ARE THE UNIFORM DEPARTMENT, THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT; SOME HAVE SPECIALIZED DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS THE RIVER POLICE. A NUMBER OF COMMON SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL FORCES, SUCH AS FORENSIC SCIENCES TRAINING AND RECRUIT TRAINING. A READING LIST IS PROVIDED IN THE FACT SHEET. (LWM)