13 1 Definitions and typologies of police corruption Introduction Corruption can loosely be defined, in modern terms, as the abuse of public power or trusted office for private gain or benefit (Ganahl, 2013: 57). Police corruption concerns the misuse of power or authority by a police officer for direct or indirect gain in exchange for an official action or inaction, and they abuse their authority by either providing or neglecting to perform services within their role in exchange for the allocation of this benefit (Edelbacher and Ivković, 2004: 21
29 2 Preventing police corruption Introduction The previous chapter covered the definitions and popular typologies of police corruption to highlight how corruption can overlap with crime, misconduct and other forms of integrity violations for either individual, collective or group gain(s). Now that police corruption has been covered and understood, strategies to mitigate corruption within a police force are outlined. This chapter covers police corruption and a prevention strategy within the police, as well as commissions of inquiries, which led to a
73 4 The political, economic and cultural drivers of police corruption Introduction The previous chapter provided an overview of the challenges related to post-conflict policing under post-conflict reconstruction and SSR initiatives. A variety of conflict-stricken and developing contexts were illustrated to demonstrate that when corruption and criminality within the police forces are high, reformists face a number of problems, and their attempt to reshuffle policies, as evident with COIN, can result in ambiguity in policing mandates. This uncertainty is
47 3 Security sector reform, post‑conflict reconstruction and police corruption in post‑conflict states Introduction Now that police corruption and prevention strategies have been covered, the purpose of this chapter is to explain how police reform fits within wider security initiatives based on political ideals. We begin by looking at the dynamics of SSR, and more narrowly police reform, to focus on rebuilding a police sector and reforms that include the justice sector. We then explore post-conflict reconstruction and the liberalist forms that dictate
Based on unprecedented empirical research conducted with lower levels of the Afghan police, this unique study assesses how institutional legacy and external intervention, from countries including the UK and the US, have shaped the structural conditions of corruption in the police force and the state.
Taking a social constructivist approach, the book combines an in-depth analysis of internal political, cultural and economic drivers with references to several regime changes affecting policing and security, from the Soviet occupation and Mujahidin militias to Taliban religious police.
Crossing disciplinary boundaries, Singh offers an invaluable contribution to the literature and to anti-corruption policy in developing and conflict-affected societies.
Drawing on interviews with journalists, senior police and press officers, this is the first ethnographic study of crime news reporting in the UK for over 25 years. It explores changes over the last 40 years, including the aftermath of the Leveson Report and the breakdown of relations between the Met and the mainstream media.
The book argues that new investigative journalism non-profits have been slowly repairing the field of crime journalism and reporting with and not on stigmatised communities.
Nevertheless, the police continue to control the flow of policing news to the press and the public. Despite the radical transformation of the Fourth Estate, in the case of the police it never been so restricted in its ability to speak truth to power.
Billions of dollars are wasted each year trying to prevent ‘dirty money’ entering a financial system that is already awash with it. The authors challenge the global approach, arguing that complacency, self-interest and misunderstanding have now created long-standing absurdities.
International and government policy makers inadvertently facilitate tax evasion, corruption, environmental and organised crime by separating crime from its root cause. The handful of crime-fighters that do exist are starved of resources whilst an army of compliance box-tickers are prevented from truly helping. The authors provide a toolbox of evidence-based solutions to help the frontline tackle financial crime.
With debate about police ethics intensifying, this stimulating book considers afresh the fundamental role of officers and their relations with society.
• It is a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to ethical policing, taking a moral philosophical perspective to the evidence base and literature on the subject.
• Leading contemporary thinker Dominic Wood tackles the ethical issues of policing as a matter of compliance and discipline and reviews them in the context of contemporary challenges in policing and the wider criminal justice framework.
• From the parameters of moral policing to the role of human rights and to embedding ethics within police operations, this is a thorough overview of the subject of police ethics and legitimacy, and a springboard for further research and analysis.
A timely contribution to discussions about the police and their legitimacy, this is essential reading for all those studying, teaching and leading the profession.
Policing is at a turbulent turning point: the pace of change is accelerating with renewed emphasis on crime reduction yet with austerity. This topical book examines what matters in policing, rather than just what works. It compares the implications of restructuring in the UK and The Netherlands, also in the USA, regarding police systems, policing paradigms and research knowledge. The authors, who cover both academia and practice, focus particularly on dilemmas for police leadership relating to strategy, values and operational command. With a foreword by Peter Neyround, University of Cambridge, it argues for developing confident and competent leadership and also provide a comprehensive paradigm to chart policing in the future while retaining trust. It is accessibly written for academics, practitioners, policy makers and students in diverse societies.
How does society hold its police to account? It’s a vital part of upholding law and liberty but changing modes of policing delivery and new technologies call for fresh thinking about the way we guard our guards.
This much-needed new book from leading criminology professor Michael Rowe, part of the ‘Key Themes in Policing’ series, explores issues of governance, discipline and transparency. The landmark new study:
• Showcases how social change and rising inequalities make it more difficult to ensure meaningful accountability;
• Addresses the impact of Evidence-Based Policing strategies on the direction and control of officers;
• Sets out a game-changing agenda for ensuring democratic and answerable policing.
For policing students and practitioners, it’s an essential guide to modern-day accountability.
