ABSTRACT
Upholding law and order The primary significance of the police in newspaper ideology lies in their physical and symbolic role as representatives and defenders of the established consensus and its institutions. The police stand for 'us' in the struggle against 'them'. They are entrusted with the task of doing battle with the forces of chaos, of patrolling the margins of the anarchic jungle at society's edges. As symbolic defenders of consensual values and institutions, the police earn the attribution of those qualities most closely associated with the consensus - righteousness, moderation, peacefulness, honesty, rationality, humanity etc. Thus, the police regularly receive praise from newspapers for their bravery and efficiency in bringing dangerous criminals to justice, for their remarkable restraint in the face of provocation, for their high standards of honesty and integrity. The Daily MatI captured the essential newspaper image of the police when it referred to 'the routine courage and reticent dedication to duty of those who man society's frontline against violent crime' (15 .11. 72). The qualities of the Force are never more apparent than when contrasted with
the brutality and dishonesty of many foreign police forces. As one Datly Express editorial put it: 'Just how lucky we are in our police force is emphasised in a report from America. There, it is revealed, New York police steal from the dead, accept bribes, cover up for dope dealers and may even commit murder.' The leader goes on to suggest that we should give ' .. . a massive vote of thanks to, and confidence in the police, who above all others, make sure that Britain enjoys the rule of law, instead of gun law' (29 .12.72). The boost to morale which this would provide would presumably have been especially important at a time when, according to another Express editorial, ' ... it is a fashionable pastime by a vociferous yet tiny minority to complain and denigrate the police at any opportunity' (18.5.72)[1].
