Born into overseas service, the author trained in the Metropolitan police and joined the Colonial Police service in Tanganyika. This book examines the role of the police service in parts of the British empire abroad, based upon the author's experiences. During World War II, he was involved in the internment of Nazi sympathizers, and as Superintendent of Police in Dar Es Salaam he had to cope with civil and industrial unrest resulting from the end of the war and demobilization. However, as Inspector General of Police in Uganda, the author faced independence campaigns, rebellion, mutiny, incursions from unstable neighbouring states, influxes of refugees and the effective localization of the Ugandan police.
