Abstract
Policing in Britain has been built around the notion of prevention. That is to say that the preventative function of British policing has traditionally been put to the forefront of discourse concerning formal or state social control. The eventual formation in 1829 of a centrally controlled police force was founded upon the ethos of prevention, and this in turn led to the uniformed 'Bobby' emerging as the focus of subsequent concern. A covert police presence, while unsupportable within the philosophical parameters of prevention, proved, in the context of the intensification of formal control to be necessary, and the detective began to operate within the expanding network of state control agencies. The ambiguity of detective work led to its partial detachment from the aims, functions and bureaucratic control of the uniform branch who remain to this day in the vanguard as a symbol of policing, and are manifested as exemplars of legitimate, normative policing practice. The style of British detective work has parallels with that found in the cultural milieu of East London. The areas deviant identity and economically determined traditions that stress autonomous action and entrepreneurial ability, have been compounded by market forces, and should be regarded as responses to the strictures and oppressions of both pre-capitalist and capitalist market economies. These responses are unique in the form of cultural style, and find favour amongst detectives of the Metropolitan Police, who, despite their formal function as thief-takers, appropriate and acquire certain of the more tangible manifestations of East End style for their own use. This thesis is concerned with the evolution of policing in Britain and in particular with the nature of police agencies, their consequent operational styles, and the genesis of their respective occupational cultures. The crucial source of one particular policing style, and its subsequent effect upon the occupational culture is considered at some length and primary and secondary historical documents, formal and informal interviews and participant observation techniques are utilised to this end. The contemporary realities of both the CID and East End cultures are considered and paralleled within an informal historical frame that has been structured by both formal and informal responses to the transient rigours of the market place. Consequently, this thesis is concerned with buying and selling on either side, across and under the legal counter. Before introducing the historical data of chapters one to five, and the original data introduced in chapters six to ten, it may be prudent to provide some discussion of the methodology that I have employed.