Michael Rowe - Introduction to Policing

3rd Edition

Preparing a third edition of this book has provided an opportunity to reflect on changes in debates about policing since the initial proposal for this text was developed in the early 2000s. At that time, shortly after the publication of the Lawrence Report of 1999, issues relating to diversity and the policing of racist attacks were high on the agenda. The police were in a period of expansion: officer numbers in England and Wales had risen and the new role of Police Community Support Officer seemed to provide an opportunity for expanding capacity as police increasingly worked in multi-agency partnerships with other public sector organisations. The problem of antisocial behaviour was salient and had led to the development of reassurance Neighbourhood Policing. A decade or more later, inevitably, the challenges facing policing have changed. Cybercrime, terrorism and the investigation of historical sex abuse cases are among the most difficult problems facing police across the world as the twenty-first century matures. In England and Wales, police have gone through an extended period of financial pressure; officer numbers have fallen back to the level they were at two decades ago. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), since 2012, have added a new dimension to police governance and are often powerful local actors in the wider criminal justice sector.

What is also notable is the considerable continuity across the period. Fundamental questions about police accountability have not been resolved by the introduction of PCCs. In many countries, related concerns about the investigation of complaints against the police persist, and the use of (sometimes deadly) force against members of the public remains controversial. Other matters, the pluralisation and privatisation of policing are obvious examples, also continue to unfold. What becomes apparent through the preparation of three versions of this book over a period of a decade is that final chapters are never written. Revised and updated though this edition is, it can only offer insight into debates that stretch into the future. Many of the questions addressed in the chapters here relate to fundamental debates about power and politics, rights and ethics, the liberty of citizens and the security of the state. These remain and will continue to remain fascinating and challenging. If this contribution offers some insight into those, then the goal will have been achieved.

Introduction to Policing 3e is supported by a wealth of online resources for both students and lecturers to aid study and support teaching, which are available at https://study.sagepub.com/rowe3e