This book investigates the historical and contemporary issues surrounding police accountability and reform in the United Kingdom. Drawing on extensive research and political analysis, Peter Hain examines the power structures within policing and the persistent challenges in ensuring that law enforcement operates within ethical and legal boundaries.

Published in 1979, Peter Hain's 'Policing the Police' likely offered a critical examination of law enforcement practices during a period of significant social and political change in the UK. The book's focus on accountability and reform suggests it was aimed at a readership interested in political science, sociology, and contemporary history, likely sparking debate among academics, policymakers, and the public.