A book that takes an in-depth look at the police in inner-city Liverpool as of the late 1970s/early 1980s, in a period just before serious riots broke out in that city. The author takes a look at the ethos of the police, and how attitudes and techniques/tactics had been changing in the generation before, as well as some of the challenges facing the force. I did think a lot of the book was a bit windy, especially some of the narrative by the police, and I wasn't completely happy with the quasi-fictional nature of the narrative as well (such as with the retired "Chalky"); to me, that reduced the impact of the book. Comparable, in some ways, to Dennis Smith's "Report From Engine Company 82." ( )