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Here's PoliceSpecials.com's list of Recommended Reading - a collection of books which will be of use to most police officers and specials, or potential recruits. You can get more information, and purchase these books online by clicking on the title.

This list has now been revised and updated (as of October 2010) and all of the links should be for current, and available, books. If you find any links that no longer work, or want to suggest additional books for our list, please get in touch.

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<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" id="table1" style="border-collapse: collapse"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="centre">General Reference / Guides</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">The Beat Officer's Companion The classic, easy to read (and carry!) reference work. All the common offences set out in an easy-to-understand format. A must for both new and experienced police officers.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">The Scottish Beat Officer's CompanionHere's the sister book to the original "Beat Officer's Companion" for Scottish Officers. Same easy to read and carry format.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Practical Policing Skills for Student Officers An excellent guide, recently published, for student officers - both regulars and specials who are new to the job. It is written in a practical workbook style, with each of the 6 chapters dealing with an everyday scenario (missing persons, shoplifting, youth disorder, domestics, etc) and taking you through the information you need to gather and the tasks you need to carry out. It also includes a brief overview of some of the relevant legislation.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Practical Policing Skills for PCSOs This book is written as a practical guide for prospective or newly-recruited PCSOs, as well as established officers who want to refresh and develop their knowledge. Linked throughout to the National Occupational Standards, this book introduces the key, universal areas of competency for PCSOs and guides the reader through incidents typical of those PCSOs will encounter. Throughout, these scenarios are addressed with up-to-date policing methods, relevant procedure and legislation.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Blackstone's Student Police Officer Handbook The Student Police Officer Handbook is a key text for new student police officers undergoing their initial police training designed to be a complementary text for the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP). The book ensures that the student police officer can effectively demonstrate that they are meeting the 22 National Occupational Standards which must be attained for intial policing.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Blackstone's Law for Student Police Officers (Practical Policing Skills) This new, comprehensive text examines all the areas of criminal and policing law that Student Officers need to study during their IPLDP. Presented in a user-friendly format, each chapter is linked explicitly to the relevant National Occupational Standards and includes clear aims and objectives, revision notes, knowledge check questions and answers, practical activities, and suggestions for the reader's SOLAP (Student Officer Learning and Assessment Portfolio).

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Blackstone's Police Operational Handbook: Law Based on the PNLD (Police National Legal Database), this excellent book is aimed at front-line, operational police officers needing to understand the key elements of offences that they deal with on a regular, as well as not-so-regular basis. It can be carried with you and covers points to prove, defences and practical considerations.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Blackstone's Police Operational Handbook: Practice and Procedure This companion book to the Law guide above offers guidance on good practice in core policing areas. Aimed at junior patrol officers, student officers and trainee detectives, it draws together practical advice across a wide range of police duties, along with extracts and explanations of official policy and guidance from ACPO, the National Policing Improvement Agency and the National Centre for Policing Excellence. Commentary is accompanied with features such as boxed examples, checklists, diagrams, practical tips and flow-charts, to aid reader's grasp of the issues.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Blackstone's Handbook for the Special Constabulary A new handbook packed with over 400 pages of information about the history and structure of the Specials, recruitment and retention, training and powers; plus sections on law, taking statements, partnership and neighbourhood policing, crime scene management and even an overview of the Criminal Justice System. Lots of useful info here!

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Blackstone's PCSO Handbook This is a highly practical, portable and weatherproof handbook, ideal for PCSOs to carry on the beat and for PCSO trainers and other police officers. The role of the PCSO has been subject to a great deal of change in recent years. Blackstone's PCSO Handbook consolidates all the relevant information and details the powers and procedures. PCSOs can use the book as a reference to find information on tasks such as crime scene management, cautions, evidence gathering, attending court and pocket notebook protocol. .

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">The Traffic Officer's CompanionThe Traffic Officer's Companion is a quick reference guide for police officers dealing with traffic regulations and offences. A broad range of subjects are covered including: speed limits, motorways, drink/driving and reporting an accident. This user-friendly publication also includes legislation for officers in Scotland.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">The Custody Officer's Companion: Police Law for Custody Officers Handy guide for custody sergeants, review officers and detention officers, explaining all the PACE requirements and guidelines in a simple, easy to understand format.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Points to Prove A comprehensive guide detailing all traffic and criminal offences. Includes "points to prove" for each offence, and a guide to investigating. A useful guide book for anyone in the legal profession as well as patrol officers.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Taking Statements Simple and straightforward advice on the 'art' of taking a good statement. Ideal for new officers or those just wishing to brush up on this vital area of policework.

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<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" id="table2" style="border-collapse: collapse"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="centre">Help with Applying to Join (Regulars or Specials)</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Blackstone's Preparing for Police Duty A readable, practical overview of the structure and workings of police forces in England & Wales, offering a comprehensive foundation to new recruits - allowing them to start assuming some responsibility for his/her own professional development from an early stage.

</td></tr><tr><td width="209" align="centre"> </td><td align="centre">Passing the Police Recruit Assessment Process The number of people applying to join the police continues to grow, but only one in ten applications proves successful. This new book, written by a former police officer who helped devise the assessment process, is packed with practical advice for those applying to become a police officer. It is easy to read and use, covering all aspects of the process - from completing the application form to the logical and numerical reasoning tests - ensuring that the reader is fully prepared to undergo selection.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Interview Exercises for the Police Recruit Assessment Process This practical and accessible book focuses on the interview, which forms a key part of the Police Recruit Assessment Process. This book identifies the nature of the interview and fully explains what to expect in the way of interaction with the assessor. It offers clear guidance on preparation for and performance in the interview and identifies the core competencies tested within the exercise. The range of practice exercises and detailed guidance increase confidence and competence and help candidates fully prepare for this aspect of the test.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Interactive Exercises For The Police Recruit Assessment Process This book focuses on the Interactive Exercise, which forms a key part of the Police Recruit Assessment Process. The role play (as the exercise is often referred to) is traditionally the part of the recruitment test that candidates worry about most and find particularly difficult. The book clearly explains the role play process, making links to the Core Competencies and in particular examining issues of diversity. It offers a number of Interactive Exercises in the form of candidate and role player instructions and provides guidance on the completed exercises.

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<table width="100%" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" id="table3" style="border-collapse: collapse"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="centre">Blackstone's (2009 Editions)

Blackstone books are endorsed by the National Police Improvement Agency, who deliver national Police training for recruits in England and Wales. They are recommended texts for new PCs and Specials. Blackstone's Police Manuals have become the best-selling police reference text in the UK. In addition to being the only official study guide for the police promotion examination in England and Wales, and the recognised text for police probationers, the Manuals have quickly established themselves as the definitive source for all who are involved in police law and procedure.</td></tr><tr><td width="22%" align="centre"> </td><td width="78%" align="centre"> Crime 2011 (Blackstone's Police Manuals) The crime manual covers a huge amount of legislation used on a regular basis by operational police officers. This latest edition has been updated to incorporate all recent legislative developments.

Get the Blackstones Q&A book too - click here

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"> </td><td align="centre">Evidence and Procedure 2011 (Blackstone's Police Manuals) Covering all aspects of evidence law and procedure from a police officer's perspective, this latest edition has been updated to incorporate all recent legislative developments.

Get the Blackstones Q&A book too - click here

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"> </td><td align="centre">General Police Duties 2011 (Blackstone's Police Manuals) Covering all aspects of general police duties from a police officer's perspective, this latest edition has been updated to incorporate all recent legislative developments.

Get the Blackstones Q&A book too - click here

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"> </td><td align="centre">Road Policing 2011 (Blackstone's Police Manuals) This volume covers all aspects of road traffic law and procedure from a police officer's perspective. This latest edition incorporates all recent legislative developments.

Get the Blackstones Q&A book too - click here

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Police Law Formerly known as Butterworth's Police Law, this revised tenth edition covers all areas of law and legal procedure which are of interest to police officers. This well-respected and highly regarded book is comprehensive and easy to understand, and is suitable for any reader, even those without formal legal training. In addition, it will be of particular assistance to all those who are studying Criminal Law for the first time.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"> </td><td align="centre">Blackstone's Guide to the Human Rights Act 1998 The 1998 Human Rights Act incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into British law. The latest edition of this best-selling text has been extensively rewritten for even greater ease of use and puts the Act and many recent developments in context, providing the rearder with an up-to-date introduction to the Act and Convention.

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<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" id="table5" style="border-collapse: collapse"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="centre">Police powers, Law and PACE</td></tr><tr><td width="206" align="centre"> </td><td width="740" align="centre"> Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984: Codes of Practice A-G Revised and updated to reflect the changes brought by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, this book is a bit like the highway code in that it explains the law in terms that you (as an operational police officer) can understand and implement. This is the book that people in custody may consult if they choose.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">A Practical Guide to PACE The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 remains the single most important piece of foundation legislation for policing in England and Wales. This new guide uses check-lists, flow-charts and illustrative examples to provide excellent guidance on how the procedures and requirements of the Act apply to common every day scenarios facing police officers and other persons charged with the investigation of offences.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"> </td><td align="centre">Police Training Manual The book deals with all essential aspects of the criminal law, road traffic legislation, general police duties, crime and evidence, and procedures. The book has been fully updated to reflect changes that have taken place in probationer training over the last 4 years. The contents of the book have been arranged to follow the various stages of the probationer constable training syllabus.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"> </td><td align="centre">A-Z of Policing Law All you need to know about the laws of England and Wales as they are likely to affect you - driving law, animal law, the law relating to children, firearms, sexual offences, trespass, wildlife and much, much more. This book details over 500 offences and includes legal defences, police powers and the powers of the courts to punish.

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<table border="1" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="100%" id="table12"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="centre">Other Police-Related Titles</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre"> The Real Sweeny Dick Kirby's utterly convincing account of full-on policing, as seen from the inside by one of its most effective practitioners, reads like a thriller; and is fully worth the cover price for the hilarious tale of "Old Bluey" alone ("the most horrible person I'd ever had dealings with"). The attitudes, techniques and procedures described might not stand up in today's courts of law, but they were effective, and administered with humanity.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre"> The Jigsaw Man Paul Britton is one of the world's controversial offender profilers. At the crime scene he looks for the "mind trace" left behind by the criminal. Britton has assisted the police in over 100 serious crimes, and is perhaps best known for his work leading to the arrest of Colin Stagg for the murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common - a crime for which he was later acquitted.

</td></tr><tr><td align="centre"></td><td align="centre">Police Slang A dictionary of Police slang which will be useful to new patrol officers who are trying to get to grips with the new language of police work!

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