Lots of heat but not too much light in this discussion. It does reveal lots of prejudice and ignorance.
I guess a Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy which evolved over centuries without written constitution must be confusing to those whose nation developed in a very different way.
In fact the UK continues to evolve and change, more rapidly under the present Government, to the extent that most of the population have lost track of the "modernisation", devolution, changes to the House of Lords, changes to all the complex and interlinked checks and balances that have worked reasonably well for so long.
And Basil, the Prime Minister is just that, not a dictator. He needs to take his Cabinet of Ministers with him and they need to carry the support of the House of Commons in many respects.
As for the "Seperation of Powers" part of the debate. Is it not well known how many times the Courts have ruled against the Government? How many times Judicial interpretation of the all powerful Human Rights Act has frusrated even newly enacted Legislation?
Even when such moves run counter to public opinion - eg in respect of failure to deport cases, or failure to detain uncharged terrorist suspects for public safety, people can appreciate that the Law checks unfettered Political Power.
Control of Police Forces is also complex being shared between appointed Chief Constables (Commisioner in the case of the Metropolitan Police), the Home Office ie Covernment, and Police Authorities, which include in their membership local politicians and lay people The present Government has taken a step to imposing more central control through issuing performance targets, threatening dismissal of Chief Constables etc but Forces still retain a large degree of independence from the Government of the day and resist attempts to politicise them. Surely the dilligence of the Metropolitan Police in pursuing the allegations of corruption in Government - "Cash for Honours Enquiry" illustrates the independence of the Police and willingness to act "without fear or favour". Could anyone in Russia imagine a Police Officer applying to a Judge for authority to search the Kremlin whilst investigating a corruption allegation against President Putin? I suspect not! That is nearly the state of play in the UK though. I personally prefer this sort of mess to the thought of a "strong" Government which/ President who controls all without check or balance, and stamps on all who disagree. I am led to believe that Mr Putin may enjoy greater public support than Prime Minister Blair does so who is to say which system in its context is best? Certainly there is increasing apathy and cynicism about politics in the UK "mature democracy".
OK, I know, I haven't brought light to the debate either.