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

Abstract

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.

What does it mean when we ask the public if they are ‘confident’ in policing? The trust, fairness, presence model of ‘public confidence’

“…This contribution is timely in the UK given changes in the governance context and role of PCCs (Lister, 2013; Rogers and Thomas, 2013; Wood, 2016). It also connects with more established literature in North America where debate about the political context for commissioners (typically not directly elected) is longer established (Hargrove and Glidewell, 1990; Sampson, 2012).…”

‘This democracy is killing us’: perceptions of rights and democracy in the South African Police Service

“…In policing, the balancing of liberalism and democracy has largely been encountered in the principle of police independence (Wood 2016). Police forces have sought to balance their independence from political influence with the need for police accountability to citizens and to a democratic elected government (Reiner 2013; Wood 2016: 150). As such, while liberalism provides for a degree of police independence and the recognition of individual rights, democracy balances this by simultaneously bringing policing within a broader project of democratic authority (Sklansky 2005).…”

“…As such, while liberalism provides for a degree of police independence and the recognition of individual rights, democracy balances this by simultaneously bringing policing within a broader project of democratic authority (Sklansky 2005). Liberal values, moreover, while empowering the police through independence, simultaneously constrain the police by providing for the protection of human rights (Wood 2016: 156).…”

Power, politics and the police: lessons from Marikana

“…Reflecting on recent changes in police governance in England and Wales, Wood (2016) draws attention to the tension between the liberal and the democratic impulses in policing in liberal democratic societies. While the former seeks to insulate the police institution from popular pressure and an overweening majoritarianism, the latter restrains inclinations towards elitism and encourages the alignment of police values and priorities with those of the public at large.…”

“…While the former seeks to insulate the police institution from popular pressure and an overweening majoritarianism, the latter restrains inclinations towards elitism and encourages the alignment of police values and priorities with those of the public at large. In more practical terms, this tension finds expression in the competing demands of police (or constabulary) independence based on notions of professionalism and discretion, and of popular support encapsulated in the idea of policing by consent (Wood 2016: 152). In modern representative democracies, elected governments at various levels from the local to the national are the principal, but by no means the only, vehicle for ensuring that policing is carried out in the public interest.…”