police authority

USAGE SUMMARY

"police authority" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the legal body that is responsible for maintaining law and order and overseeing a police force. For example: The police authority issued a directive to police officers instructing them to remain on high alert for any suspicious activity.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

That was an abuse of police authority".

Independent

Who would speak to the police authority?

The Guardian

How many could name a single member of their police authority?

The Economist

But they also have full police authority, up to and including using lethal force if necessary.

The New York Times

"London has 32 library authorities but just one police authority," marvels Desmond Clarke, a library campaigner.

The Economist

Commission can ask its police authority not to enforce the law.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Jersey Police Authority has appointed four islanders to the independent body that will oversee the police.

BBC

PC Dibell was described as "an extraordinary man and an exceptional police officer" by Essex Police Authority.

BBC

Some members of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) said the change could put off people from joining the police.

BBC

The town's two police stations are provided by the North Yorkshire Police Authority.

Wikipedia

The chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority suggested rubber bullets might be used in extreme circumstances.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "police authority" when discussing budgetary or administrative decisions related to law enforcement.

Common error

Avoid using "police authority" interchangeably with "police force". The "police authority" is the governing body, while the "police force" is the operational unit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "police authority" primarily functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and is used to identify an entity with specific powers related to policing. Examples in Ludwig show it referring to a governing body overseeing the police force.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "police authority" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to the governing body responsible for overseeing a police force. Ludwig AI confirms this. While not extremely common, the phrase is prevalent in news and media, as well as in formal contexts. It’s important to differentiate it from "police force", which refers to the operational unit. Related phrases include "law enforcement agency" or "governing body of police". When writing about the structure of local government or budgetary decisions, "police authority" is the appropriate term to use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

law enforcement agency

Focuses on the organizational aspect of enforcing laws.

police department

Emphasizes the operational unit responsible for policing.

law enforcement establishment

Highlights the institutional nature of law enforcement.

constabulary force

More formal term for a police force, particularly in some Commonwealth countries.

governing body of police

Focuses on the governance and oversight aspect of the police.

police governing establishment

Highlights the institutional nature of police governance.

force oversight entity

Stresses the oversight and accountability role.

agency for policing

General term for an organization responsible for policing.

police control administration

Focuses on the administrative control of the police force.

body in charge of police

General term indicating the entity responsible for police matters.

FAQs

How is "police authority" used in a sentence?

The phrase "police authority" is used to describe the governing body responsible for overseeing a police force. For example: "The police authority set its own budget at £1.5m."

What is another way to say "police authority"?

Alternatives to "police authority" include "law enforcement agency" or "governing body of police" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "police authority" and "police force"?

The "police authority" is the governing body responsible for overseeing the police, while the "police force" is the operational law enforcement unit itself. One governs, the other acts.

Who is part of the "police authority"?

Members of the "police authority" can include local councilors, independent members, and representatives from other community organizations.