NCJ Number
144659
Journal
Policing and Society Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 205-221
Date Published
1993
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The question of what constitutes good policing is examined.
Abstract
Four approaches to defining good policing objectives, professional ethics, generic competency, and interactionist differ according to the extent to which they emphasize the technical aspects of policing (means) or the sociopolitical impact of its outcomes (ends). Based on the four approaches, the authors analyze a routine policing incident in an urban setting in England involving two officers. They argue that any analysis that separates the technical and moral dimensions is bound to be partial. Ultimately, good policing is a personal achievement of individual officers; a police organization can facilitate good policing by creating the "ethical space" in which officers can critically reflect on their practice. The current hierarchical structure of supervision and accountability is not conducive to such self-awareness. 44 references