The false promise of evidence based policing

The rseults of "evidence based policing" studies are almost never generalizable because they ignore the context of police work and the fact that knowledge about policing is not an abstraction, but only meaningful through cognitive agents: police officers reflecting critically on their practic

Chimpanzee police?

People like to make comparisons between humans and other animals when they think a comparison helps them to make a point (e.g. that some human behavior can or cannot be considered to be ‘natural’) or to have a laugh when animals act in ways that are seen as funny or cute. There are a lot of misunderstandings about the feasibility of these kinds of comparisons and this chapter deals with the way in which meaningful use can be made of studies into animal behavior, using research into chimpanzee behavior (and specifically research into chimpanzee conflict regulation) as an example. The conclusion is that there are three ways in which ethological studies into non-human animal behavior can be relevant for an increased understanding of human behavior: by using ethological methods of systematic observation, by asking relevant research questions and by generating new hypotheses

MANTENIMIENTO DEL ORDEN PÚBLICO: teoría, práctica y educación del policiamiento de los campeonatos europeos de fútbol de 2000 y 2004

As forças policiais diferenciam-se nos métodos de intervenção que utilizam para manter a lei e a ordem em grandes eventos que põem em perigo a ordem pública, a exemplo das partidas de futebol de alto risco e de certas manifestações públicas. Tradicionalmente, a ênfase no treinamento e desempenho policiais se coloca nas táticas de controle antidistúrbios e no uso de armas não letais, incluindo desde o cassetete e os produtos químicos até os canhões de água e as balas de borracha. A maior parte dos estudos geralmente deixam de lado a perspectiva policial e ignoram o fato de que os acontecimentos da ordem pública são processos intergrupais e uma consequência de interações em desenvolvimento. Neste artigo, apresentam-se os resultados de algumas pesquisas empíricas sobre a atuação da polícia na manutenção da ordem pública, que colocam em questão as perspectivas tradicionais do comportamento das massas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: ordem pública, policiamento de futebol jogos, táticas antimotim, a dinâmica das multidões, controle de multidões. MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER: theory, practice and teaching of the police for the European Football Championship in 2000 and 2004 Otto M.J. Adang Police forces differ in the methods of intervention used to maintain law and order in major events that endanger public order, like high risk soccer matches and certain public demonstrations. Traditionally, the emphasis on police performance and training is put on riot control tactics and use of nonlethal weapons, from batons and chemicals to water cannons and rubber bullets. Most studies generally fail to consider the perspective of the police and ignore the fact that the events of public order are intergroup processes and a consequence of interactions in development. In this paper, we present the results of some empirical research on the role of police in maintaining public order, which put into question the traditional perspectives of behavior of the masses. KEYWORDS: public order, policing of football matches, riot control tactics, dynamics of crowds, crowd control. MAINTIEN DE ‘L’ORDRE PUBLIC: théorie, pratique et formation de la police pour le Championnat Européen de Football en 2000 et 2004 Otto M.J. Adang Les forces de police s’exercent de manière différente en fonction des méthodes d’intervention utilisées pour maintenir l’ordre et faire respecter la loi dans les grandes manifestations qui mettent en danger l’ordre public, tels les matchs de football à haut risque et certaines manifestations publiques. Traditionnellement, l’accent est mis sur la formation et les performances de la police quant aux tactiques de contrôle antiémeutes et l’utilisation d’armes non létales, y compris les bâtons et les produits chimiques, les canons à eau et les balles en caoutchouc. La plupart des études ne tient généralement pas compte du point de vue de la police et ignore le fait que les événements dus à l’action de l’ordre public sont le résultat d’un processus intergroupes et la conséquence d’interactions en développement. Dans cet article, nous présentons les résultats d’une série de recherches empiriques sur le rôle de la police pour le maintien de l’ordre public, qui remet en question l’approche traditionnelle du comportement des masses. MOTS-CLÉS: ordre public, surveillance policière des matchs de football, tactiques antiémeutes, dynamique des foules, contrôle des foules. Publicação Online do Caderno CRH: http://www.cadernocrh.ufba.br   Publicação Online do Caderno CRH no Scielo: http://www.scielo.br/ccr

Researching the use of force: The background to the international project

This article provides the background to an international project on use of force by the police that was carried out in eight countries. Force is often considered to be the defining characteristic of policing and much research has been conducted on the determinants, prevalence and control of the use of force, particularly in the United States. However, little work has looked at police officers’ own views on the use of force, in particular the way in which they justify it. Using a hypothetical encounter developed for this project, researchers in each country conducted focus groups with police officers in which they were encouraged to talk about the use of force. The results show interesting similarities and differences across countries and demonstrate the value of using this kind of research focus and methodology

Determinants of Persistence in Collective Violence Offending

This study explores individual characteristics linked to an increased risk of persistence in collective violence. A sample of collective violence offenders (n = 438) was identified based on individuals' involvement in a collective violence incident in 2011/2012 or due to them being recorded in a police database of 'known' football hooligans. For the current analyses, persistence was defined as recidivism to collective violence assessed over a 4- to 5-year time span. Criminal career data were obtained from the police (register data). Individual characteristics concerned criminal career measures, behavioral indicators of personality traits and childhood problematic behavior. Due to a lack of other available data sources, behavioral indicator data were largely obtained from police and probation service information. The results of this study indicate that offender characteristics can be linked to persistence in collective violence. Results contrast currently dominant theoretical perspectives on the etiology of collective violence. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.</p

Police lethal force and accountability : monitoring deaths in Western Europe

The use of force by the police and other law enforcement officers has long been a significant topic of concern, especially when it results in death. This issue and the controversies around it have recently been highlighted by a series of high-profile deaths in 2020. Police Lethal Force and Accountability assesses the frequency of deaths, and the availability and reliability of information regarding deaths, associated with the application of force by law enforcement agencies in four jurisdictions: Belgium, England & Wales, France and the Netherlands. By adopting a common set of considerations for assessing the policies and practices within these individual jurisdictions, this report enables comparisons to be made across them. In doing so, we look to provide those in policing agencies, campaigning groups, government ministries and others, with sound information with which they can identify priorities to ensure uses of force are being accurately recorded and investigated. By enabling those concerned to understand how uses of force are recorded and addressed in comparison with other jurisdictions, we hope this report will help them to build a stronger case when holding public institutions accountable and identifying points for improvement. As documented, while deaths from the use of force appear relatively rare across these four jurisdictions when compared to countries such as the US the procedures and policies for recording, investigating and disclosing details associated with deaths are wanting. The availability of official information on the number of deaths associated with the use of force, its reliability, and the extent of details collected on those that die at the hands of the state vary from country to country. While there are elements of good practice, the procedures and policies are often lacking in critical respects. As a result of such deficiencies, it is difficult to assess many important dimensions of policing, including whether some communities are disproportionality subjected to the lethal use of force. Ultimately, reducing the extent of police force requires addressing underlying societal conditions associated with employment, health, housing and education. However, more can be done by law enforcement agencies, as well as by their oversight bodies and government ministers. Assembling data and evidence that is accessible, relevant and useful to those concerned with lethal force is a necessary step to enhance accountability for, and possibly prevent, deaths. In the context of democratic societies, the police and police-related bodies not only need to act on what they know in order to learn lessons, but also to demonstrate they are doing so to the populations they are meant to serve. Every death associated with the use of force by law enforcement officials should be recorded, recognised and investigated. No one’s death should go unacknowledged and unexamined