Abstract
Crime is promoted by the government as being the primary task of the police, yet such a focus marginalizes the extraordinary prominence and relevance of many non-crime policing activities.This research highlights the breadth and complexity of those duties, filling a gap in the literature by exploring the possible future of non-crime policing.
The research draws on extensive literary sources and utilizes quantitative data covering eight years of public calls made to the Staffordshire Police. The research includes qualitative data obtained from thirteen semi-structured interviews with individuals who have extensive policing experience.
The research found that public demand for policing declined over the reviewed period, with staffing levels in Staffordshire dropping and government funding falling drastically. There were marked increases in ‘concern for safety’ incidents, ‘suicides’ and cases involving individuals suffering mental health crises.
The research explored policing from a historical perspective drawing on European and British history, ancient and modern, in order to help shine a light on prospective future developments.
The research suggested that policing is torn between those who feel that non-crime matters are important and those who think that policing should be largely crime-focused. Concerns were raised about the on going politicization of policing, the extended police hierarchy and the impact of neo-liberalism on non-crime demand.
Non-crime policing appears to be moving incrementally towards pluralization and privatisation, though it could also help initiate a more unified, internationalized policing service built around human rights. All futures remain open and it is up to all of us to decide what that future will ultimately be.
| Date of Award | Sept 2016 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Barry Loveday (Supervisor) & Francis Pakes (Supervisor) |