Human Rights in the New Training Curriculum of the Police Service of Northern Ireland

• NCJ Number: 208283
• Journal: Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Dated: 2004 Pages: 498-511
• Author(s): Steven T. Engel; George W. Burruss
• Editor(s): Lawrence F. Travis III
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the new training procedures for police in Northern Ireland in order to assess the conception of human rights employed in the training.

Abstract

In the aftermath of a divided society or regime policing, reformers in Northern Ireland are seeking to develop a model of democratic policing to replace the problematic practices of the past. One of the key features of democratic policing is the protection of human rights. Attempting to integrate human rights into every aspect of police training is a key test in placing human rights at the forefront of the reforms. This study was primarily interested in the proposed integration of human rights into the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) training, and whether the integration of human rights would be emphasized in the foundation training and if the training staff adopted the holistic or legalistic approach to human rights. Based on observations, the PSNI did a fairly good job integrating human rights into the new training curriculum with aspects of the training remaining rooted in a legalistic approach to human rights. There is also evidence that the PSNI is succeeding in the development of a holistic approach to human rights. References