UNITED KINGDOM

History

Early settlers were the Celts, they were later invaded by Romans who influenced the area for 400 years. When the Romans left, many cultures competed for power: Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, however, in 1066 the Normans gained control of the country. Internal struggle between the Welsh, Scots, and the Irish continued with many social and political changes taking form.

External wars and exploration began in the 1500's and commercial ventures and colonizing soon followed. Civil war in the 1600's and the struggle for national leadership continued whilst international wars flourished. The industrial revolution brought more social changes and a series of wars, including the two world wars which have diminished the world power capability of the United Kingdom.

Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the nineteenth century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The British Empire covered approximately one-fourth of the earth’s surface at its zenith. In the first half of the twentieth century its strength was seriously depleted by two world wars. Since the end of World War II, the British Empire has been dismantled, and Britain has rebuilt itself into a prosperous, modern European nation with significant international political, cultural, and economic influence. At the end of the twentieth century, Britain was debating the degree of its integration with continental Europe. While a member of the EU, for the time being it is staying out of the Euro system introduced in January 1999. Constitutional reform, including the House of Lords and de devolution of power to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is an ongoing issue in Great Britain.

Government

The government of the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a prime minister and cabinet, bicameral parliament, and judicial system. Many political parties compete for governmental power during open elections.

Wales and England are united in 1536 and since that time governmental representation in parliament has existed. The chief administrative officer for Wales is the Secretary of State for Wales. He/she is appointed by the Prime Minister and is a Member of the Cabinet. For statistical purposes England and Wales are described together.
Scotland was united with England and Wales in 1707 by an Act of Parliament. The principal administrative officer of Scotland is the Secretary of State for Scotland who is also a Cabinet member of cabinet. For statistical purposes England and Wales are described together.

The three countries, England, Wales, and Scotland, collectively are called Great Britain.

Northern Ireland was joined with Great Britain in 1920 under an Act of Parliament dealing with Irish affairs. Representation of Northern Ireland's populace, through elections, take place in the British parliament.

The four countries together are referred to as the United Kingdom.

Economy

The UK is one of the world’s great trading powers and financial centres, and its essentially capitalistic economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programmes. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanised, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60^ of food needs with only 1% of labour force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance, now employing only 18% of the work force. Economic growth is slowing. As a result, unemployment probably will begin to rise again. The Blair government has put off the question of participation in the Euro system until after the next election, not expected until 2001, but Chancellor of the Exchequer Brown is committed to preparing the British economy for eventual membership.

Police

There are approximately 127,000 (1995) police personnel in 43 semi-autonomous police forces in England and Wales that share responsibility with the central government.

Primary police functions include patrol, traffic enforcement, and criminal investigation. Various transportation vehicles are available, including in some police forces helicopters and boats. The police are not armed but can obtain weapons if necessary. Many of the police forces prosecute their own cases in the lower magistrate's court.

Police recruit training is carried out in regional training centres located throughout the country. A special training facility is also available for advanced training of personnel.

The police are deployed to urban and rural areas of the country and are responsible to their regional level of government and also to the national government, the Home Secretary.

The magistrate's court, staffed with lay judges, hears a large number of criminal cases. Higher courts, i.e. the central criminal court in London, deal with more serious offenders. Appeals can be made to the next higher level of court.

Prisons and jails are located throughout the country near area courts.