Police Authorities, Accountability, and Citizenship

Millen, Floyd; Stephens, Mike

doi:10.1093/police/pas022

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

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“…Before the elections, the tripartite structure existed with the aim of enabling scrutiny of the Chief Constable through the police authorities, who also played a role in setting the strategic direction for the force. However, the argument was made by many, that police authorities were failing at these activities because they had insufficient knowledge about their roles, and they lacked the formal powers needed to exert real influence (Millen and Stephens, 2012). In addition to this, public awareness of police authorities was almost non-existent (Myhill et al, 2003), which was deemed to be an acute failure given that policing should enforce the law on behalf of and with the support of the community it serves (Scarman, 1986, p. 4.60).…”

Section: Scrutiny: What Is Changed?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Who is policing the Police and Crime Commissioners?

Chambers

2014

Safer Communities

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how the Police and Crime Commissioners have been scrutinised in their first nine months in office, focusing primarily on one particular force area. Design/methodology/approach – A brief analysis of the most current writing on this topic, including official documents such as minutes of police and crime panel meetings and Home Affairs Committee and Welsh Affairs Committee evidence sessions, as well various online news sources are provided. Academic literature spanning 30 years is also drawn upon. Findings – In considering particular major events in the first nine months of the implementation of Police and Crime Commissioners, central government have been required to take a more prominent role in scrutiny in certain regions than first envisaged, due to ambiguity of legislative guidelines. Research limitations/implications – As an exploratory paper, one force area (Gwent) is the primary focus, sampled because of the issues faced in that area and its widespread coverage in the media. Practical implications – Problems with the legislative guidance for Police and Crime Commissioners, Police and Crime Panels and other involved agencies and individuals are highlighted. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the body of research investigating how the new policing governance framework in England and Wales is unfolding in practice. It is informed by both academic perspectives and real life examples.

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Section: Scrutiny: What Is Changed?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Who is policing the Police and Crime Commissioners?

Chambers

2014

Safer Communities

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The importance of liberal values within policing: police and crime commissioners, police independence and the spectre of illiberal democracy

Wood

2014

Policing and Society

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The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) in England and Wales has reignited discussions about police governance. This paper contributes to these debates by focusing on the role liberal values play within liberal democratic ideals of policing. It suggests, policing principles historically have been informed primarily by liberal goals; that is to say these principles are liberal before they are democratic. Policing in England and Wales today, however, is increasingly informed by democratic values at the expense of liberal principles.The spectre of illiberal democracy is considered here as a warning in light of this development. The paper argues that there is a growing disparity between the rhetoric of liberal policing principles, historically rooted in pre-democratic times, and the reality of contemporary policing in societies that are increasingly sensitive to democratic expectations. Police independence is used to illustrate this argument. Police independence is still revered in rhetoric today, but the liberal origin of this concept is not recognised. But the idea that the police should retain a degree of freedom from political interference makes sense from a liberal perspective, one that is increasingly difficult to defend as liberal values decline in importance, and democratic aspirations come to the fore. The paper concludes by suggesting that liberal values are, on the one hand, increasingly difficult to accommodate within contemporary ideas of policing, but are at the same time becoming more necessary, especially following the introduction of PCCs.

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Police Authorities, Accountability, and Citizenship

Cited by 2 publications

References 2 publications

Who is policing the Police and Crime Commissioners?

Who is policing the Police and Crime Commissioners?

The importance of liberal values within policing: police and crime commissioners, police independence and the spectre of illiberal democracy

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