Les Johnston argues that policing, far from being the preserve of public personnel, is in fact performed by a mixture of public, private, and quasi-public agents. He reviews the history of private policing and examines its implications.

The second edition of Private Policing details the substantial involvement of private agents and organisations involved in policing beyond the public police. It develops a taxonomy of policing and explores in depth each of the main categories, examining the degree of privateness, amongst several other issues. The main categories include the public police; hybrid policing such as state policing bodies, specialised police forces and non-governmental organisations; voluntary policing; and the private security industry. This book explores how the public police and many other state bodies have significant degrees of privateness, from outright privatisation through to the serving of private interests. The book provides a theoretical framework for private policing, building upon the growing base of scholarship in this area. Fully revised, this new edition not only brings the old edition up to date with the substantial scholarship since 2002, but also provides more international context and several new chapters on: corporate security management, security officers, and private investigation. There is also a consideration of what the book calls the ‘new private security industry’ working largely in cyber-space. Bringing together research from a wide range of projects the author has been involved with, along with the growing body of private policing scholarship, the book shows the substantial involvement of non-public police bodies in policing and highlights a wide range of issues for debate and further research. Private Policing is ideal reading for students of policing and security courses, academics with an interest in private policing and security, and practitioners from security and policing.

The police are perhaps the most visible representation of government. They are charged with what has been characterized as an "impossible" mandate -- control and prevent crime, keep the peace, provide public services -- and do so within the constraints of democratic principles. The police are trusted to use deadly force when it is called for and are allowed access to our homes in cases of emergency. In fact, police departments are one of the few government agencies that can be mobilized by a simple phone call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are ubiquitous within our society, but their actions are often not well understood. The Oxford Handbook of Police and Policing brings together research on the development and operation of policing in the United States and elsewhere. Accomplished policing researchers Michael D. Reisig and Robert J. Kane have assembled a cast of renowned scholars to provide an authoritative and comprehensive overview of the institution of policing. The different sections of the Handbook explore policing contexts, strategies, authority, and issues relating to race and ethnicity. The Handbook also includes reviews of the research methodologies used by policing scholars and considerations of the factors that will ultimately shape the future of policing, thus providing persuasive insights into why and how policing has developed, what it is today, and what to expect in the future. Aimed at a wide audience of scholars and students in criminology and criminal justice, as well as police professionals, the Handbook serves as the definitive resource for information on this important institution.

"An extremely valuable source of reading, information, and guidance for my policing students. It covers all the topical issues." Johannes Oosthuizen – Lecturer at Winchester University Introducing the definitive guide for students and professionals alike who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of policing in the 21st century. This updated edition of Introduction to Policing reflects the latest developments in policing and offers a rigorous yet accessible overview of the historical origins and theories of policing, the functions of police organisations, and the challenges and controversies facing policing today. With an emphasis on critical thinking and analysis, Rowe encourages readers to consider different perspectives and to engage with key debates around policing, such as ‘who guards the guards’ and ‘the implications of police culture’, helping them to develop a more nuanced understanding of this complex field. The clear writing style, engaging case studies, and helpful study aids make this book an invaluable resource for students and professionals alike. Key features include: • Revised and expanded discussion of racism and police culture, and new coverage of the development of antiracist policing • Updated examples reflecting contemporary criticisms of policing, such as the cases of Sarah Everard and George Floyd • Expanded discussion of key debates, including the ‘defund the police’ movement, and the use of technology and digital policing, including Smart Policing, drones, and body-worn cameras • Learning objectives, key terms, review questions, and annotated further readings in every chapter will help you to engage with the material and consolidate your learning Michael Rowe is Professor of Criminology at Northumbria University Liam Ralph is Assistant Professor of Criminology at Northumbria University Ali Malik is Lecturer in Criminal Justice at University of Leeds

The Politics of the Police offers a geographical and historical overview of the law and politics of the police. This fifth edition covers a wider range of empirical and theoretical issues, encompassing a transnational scope and reflecting the growing diversity of policing forms in today's globalized world.

This collection of essays on transnational crime and policing covers a broad range of themes: the relationship between global policing and the transnational-state-system; the impact of advanced technologies on policing practice; the changing morphology of occupational policing subculture; and the transnational practices of police agencies. The essays include case studies and are based on empirical fieldwork that began in the early 1990s and continued for over a decade well into the post 9-11 period. This collection also provides valuable accounts of the 'secret social world' of transnational police, demonstrates that the developmental trajectory of transnational practices was already established prior to the 'age of Homeland Security' and addresses the controversial issue of how transnational policing in all of its complex manifestations might be made politically accountable in the interests of the general global commonwealth.

The increasing reliance on private security services raises questions about the effects of privatization on the quality of public police forces, particularly in high-crime, low-income areas. In an effective pro-and-con format, two experts on policing offer two strikingly different perspectives on this trend towards privatization. In the process, they provide an unusually thoughtful discussion of the origins of both the public police and the private security sectors, the forces behind the recent growth of private security operations, and the risks to public safety posed by privatization. In his critique of privatization, Peter K. Manning focuses on issues of free market theory and management practices such as Total Quality Management that he believes are harmful to the traditional police mandate to control crime. He questions the appropriateness of strategies that emphasize service to consumers. For Brian Forst, the free market paradigm and economic incentives do not carry the same stigma. He argues that neither public nor private policing should have a monopoly on law enforcement activities, and he predicts an even more varied mix of public and private police activities than are currently available. Following the two main sections of the book, each author assesses the other's contribution, reflecting on not just their points of departure but also on the areas in which they agree. The breadth and depth of the discussion makes this book essential for both scholars and practitioners interested in policing generally and privatization in particular.