Policing Criminology

What is ‘policing’? A set of activities A set of activities Provision of “security through surveillance and the threat of sanctioning” (Reiner, 1997: 1005). Provision of “security through surveillance and the threat of sanctioning” (Reiner, 1997: 1005). “organised order maintenance, peace keeping, rule or law enforcement, crime investigation and prevention, and other forms of investigation and associated information brokering, which may involve the concious exercise of coercive power.” (Newburn & Neyroud eds, 2008: 217) “organised order maintenance, peace keeping, rule or law enforcement, crime investigation and prevention, and other forms of investigation and associated information brokering, which may involve the concious exercise of coercive power.” (Newburn & Neyroud eds, 2008: 217)

Role of the Police 1. Catch criminals 1. Catch criminals –Detection –Reactive –Increasingly police focussed on this 2. Prevent crime 2. Prevent crime –Prevention – inc. scarecrow policing –Proactive –Addresses fear of crime – community safety –More likely to be other agencies now 3. Maintain public order 3. Maintain public order –A key police function with specialist officers & units

Tasks of the police Patrolling (still v. significant, but much less than it used to be) Patrolling (still v. significant, but much less than it used to be) –Car, bike, bicycle and foot –Attend to calls (reactive, fire-fighting policing?) –Led by what local communities want –Proactive? Preventative? Criminal investigation (CID) Criminal investigation (CID) –Inc. special units e.g vice, child protection –reactive Traffic Traffic Other Other –E.g. administration, dog squad, mobile reserves for riots Dr Jason Roach

Police, Policing and Community Safety Police not the only ones who ‘police’ society: ‘Pluralisation of Policing’ Police not the only ones who ‘police’ society: ‘Pluralisation of Policing’ Range of civilian and non-civilian people with a variety of powers Range of civilian and non-civilian people with a variety of powers

Plural Policing No longer a single monolithic police force (if there ever really was such a thing…) No longer a single monolithic police force (if there ever really was such a thing…) Instead range of agencies, organisations & individuals, inc. general ‘citizenry’ Instead range of agencies, organisations & individuals, inc. general ‘citizenry’ As part of this structural shift there is a conceptual shift: As part of this structural shift there is a conceptual shift: Away from idea of professional state police to concern with social regulation, law enforcement and maintenance of order by formal and informal means Away from idea of professional state police to concern with social regulation, law enforcement and maintenance of order by formal and informal means So: policing is everywhere and by everyone! So: policing is everywhere and by everyone! Dr Jason Roach

Who are the Police? Bobby? Armed police? British Transport Police? Riot Police?PCSO?

Police as Gatekeepers to CJS Usually they are the gateway to the CJS Usually they are the gateway to the CJS Arrest court, punishment etc Arrest court, punishment etc Or not? They can divert away from CJS Or not? They can divert away from CJS –Caution, on the spot fine, informal warning, no prosecution, no focus on some crimes etc

POLICE POWERS Brixton Riots 1981; Brixton Riots 1981; ‘Operation Swamp’: Led to.. ‘Operation Swamp’: Led to.. Scarman Report 1981, which helped contribute to.. Scarman Report 1981, which helped contribute to.. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

P.A.C.E. Act 1984 Set new guidelines or ‘Codes of Practice’ for police officers which included: Set new guidelines or ‘Codes of Practice’ for police officers which included: Stop and Search powers.. Stop and Search powers.. Treatment of suspected persons.. Treatment of suspected persons.. Treatment of ‘detained persons.’ Treatment of ‘detained persons.’

Policing Sources of information on the police: Sources of information on the police: Personal Contact Personal Contact Word of Mouth Word of Mouth Media Based: Mass Media etc. Media Based: Mass Media etc.

Policing Why are we fascinated with Law and Order? Why are we fascinated with Law and Order? TASK: TASK: Make a list of factual and fictional TV representations of the police. Make a list of factual and fictional TV representations of the police. Which do you think is the most accurate portrayal of today’s police? Which do you think is the most accurate portrayal of today’s police?

POLICING Discuss various ways that the police are portrayed in the media, both on Television and in the Newspapers. Discuss various ways that the police are portrayed in the media, both on Television and in the Newspapers.

Summary Policing is done by a multiple of agencies, organisations & individuals Policing is done by a multiple of agencies, organisations & individuals The police have 3 roles, but are turning away from prevention The police have 3 roles, but are turning away from prevention The police are gatekeepers to the rest of CJS, especially through their use of discretion The police are gatekeepers to the rest of CJS, especially through their use of discretion

POLICING Do the police do a good job?