Somerville, Peter (2009) Understanding community policing. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 32 (2). pp. 261-277. ISSN 1363-951X

	Microsoft Word Rethinking_community_policing.doc - Whole Document Restricted to Repository staff only Download (115Kb) | Request a copy
Preview	PDF Rethinking_community_policing.pdf - Whole Document Download (84Kb)

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to explore, in broad terms, how policing needs to be developed in communities today. Approach The approach is normative and analytical, considering the meaning of policing in general, and community policing in particular, and specifying the criteria that such policing has to satisfy in order to be fair and effective in contemporary society. Findings A concept of public self-policing is developed and community policing is then evaluated in the light of this concept. Police officers are understood as street-level bureaucrats, with multiple accountabilities. The ideal relationship between police and public is characterised as a structural coupling between two types of self-organising system. Implications The paper has implications for how policing organisations and governments might develop improved policing strategies in the future. Value of the paper The paper provides a clear, logical summary of thinking about the role of policing, particularly community policing, in today’s society. It offers a novel concept of public self-policing, leading to a new approach to the evaluation of the work of policing organisations.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Purpose The purpose of the paper is to explore, in broad terms, how policing needs to be developed in communities today. Approach The approach is normative and analytical, considering the meaning of policing in general, and community policing in particular, and specifying the criteria that such policing has to satisfy in order to be fair and effective in contemporary society. Findings A concept of public self-policing is developed and community policing is then evaluated in the light of this concept. Police officers are understood as street-level bureaucrats, with multiple accountabilities. The ideal relationship between police and public is characterised as a structural coupling between two types of self-organising system. Implications The paper has implications for how policing organisations and governments might develop improved policing strategies in the future. Value of the paper The paper provides a clear, logical summary of thinking about the role of policing, particularly community policing, in today’s society. It offers a novel concept of public self-policing, leading to a new approach to the evaluation of the work of policing organisations.
Keywords:	policing, public, street-level bureaucracy, Somerville 693
Subjects:	L Social studies > L900 Others in Social studies
Divisions:	College of Social Sciences > Faculty of Health & Social Sciences > School of Social & Political Sciences
Depositing User:	Peter Somerville
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2010 13:04
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2013 08:35
URI:	http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/2305

Actions (login required)

View Item