Purpose-To provide a concept for a different policing organizational model, founded upon democratic policing principles and a victim-centered philosophy, which may be more useful for a postmodernist society. Design/methodology/approach-The paper presents an alternative model of policing; based upon a literature review of authoritative material concerning the postmodernist environment, the historical background of policing, police organizational research, and the philosophy of victim-centered policing. Findings-The paper presents a literature review, which identifies that the bureaucratic model of policing may no longer be functional for policing post-modern society and inconsistent with modern governance principles. A more democratic heteronomous model of policing, where management determines the broad philosophical principles and coordination of tasks while the policing practitioner makes localized decisions, may improve organizational effectiveness. A philosophy of victim-centered policing may assist in achieving a policing legitimacy and the development of a new administrative approach. An existing model of this new approach may be found in the community beat officer, which is currently operating in many jurisdictions. Practical implications-The implementation of the principles espoused in this paper may improve the policing legitimacy in heavily fragmented societies, reduce deviant behavior by police officers while increasing job satisfaction, support restorative justice issues for victims, and assist the maintenance of public order.
The article discusses the emergence of victim-centred policing as a philosophical approach to reducing the effects of criminal victimisation. It discusses the convergence of criminological thought with policing in identifying the importance of the victim in the response to crime. It identifies the need to restructure policing practices to position the victim as a strategic focus for policing in the twenty-first century and to take the institutional lead in the criminal justice system.The symbolic, cultural and philosophical transformation necessary to operationalise the philosophy of victim-centred policing is examined. The importance of social research and the need for professional expertise within the policing unit to facilitate victim-centred police operations is also discussed.The article explores the role of the victim in traditional law enforcement and the move towards models of community policing that emphasise victim involvement in the criminal justice system. A discussion of the victimisation process and the inclusion of principles of restorative justice as a critical factor in the recovery of the victim are provided.
This article argues that the modern concept of problem-orientated policing requires that organised crime be redefined in sociological and political science terminology to identify opportunities for community-based policing initiatives to be utilised in undermining its institutional base. It seeks to redefine organised crime by its use of power and acts of victimisation. The article reviews a number of traditional organised crime groups by undertaking an historical power analysis process to substantiate this argument. It identifies the conditions and societies that gave rise to organised crime. It discusses the initial community or institutional purpose of the organised group and how it mutated to dominate by acts of criminal victimisation. The view is expressed that a victim-centred, problem-orientated policing policy is necessary to understand the legitimacy of organised crime in isolated communities and to remove barriers between the police and these communities. This view promotes the use of specially trained community police officers who are directly linked to other agencies engaged in suppressing organized crime to develop community capacity building to resist crime in isolated communities.
The article presents, for future research, a possible conceptual model for understanding the elements of public order within postmodern society. It deconstructs public order into component parts of progressive collective victimisation, social mores and human rights. It argues that public order may be undermined by progressive collective victimisation that commences with the erosion of social mores that support networks of understandings within the community, and that continues until it creates a perception of a threat to the physical security of a defined class. It presents the view that this victimisation process can be related to social exclusion that precludes the individual from self-actualisation. This continues, unless abated, until it threatens the fundamentals of human survival. The victimisation process, if unchecked, creates within the excluded societal group, a 'fight' or 'flight' response. The article suggests that future police administrators may need a political awareness not required of their predecessors, and supportive information systems to keep the peace in the 21st century.
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