Policing the Crisis

The initial publication of Policing the Crisis was a key moment in the history of critical social science. The book was a prescient, extraordinary piece of critical scholarship. Over three decades on, its analytical clarity, and what it tells us about the exercise of power in an increasingly brutal, social environment, remains undiminished. The second edition, with additional material, is as relevant as its predecessor, a compelling read not only for students and academics, but also for anyone interested in the history of the UK since 1945." - Joe Sim, Professor of Criminology, Liverpool John Moores University, UK Praise for the first edition: "... a remarkable tour de force which will provide an invaluable framework for any future work on crime, law and the state... It is a major achievement both in terms of its contribution to social theory and political debate" - British Journal of Sociology "... probably one of the most important books to be written on race relations in Britain" - Race and Class "... a penetrating study of post-war British society which not only has depth but is powerfully written... Policing the Crisis is an impressive combination of sophisticated theory and thorough concrete analysis" - Tribune

This classic text is still one of the most influential and compelling books in the social sciences. Staying true to the original writing, this special edition includes a new Preface, an Index and reflective Afterword from Stuart Hall and the authors, exploring the continued relevance of the text in light of contemporary cultural and social issues.This special 35th anniversary edition contains the original, unchanged text that inspired a generation, alongside two new chapters that explore the book's continued significance for today's readers. The Preface provides a brief retrospective account of the book's original structure, the rich ethnographic, intellectual and theoretical work that informed it, and the historical context in which it appeared. In the new Afterword, each of the authors takes up a specific theme from the original book and interrogates it in the light of current crises, perspectives and contexts.