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Article
Publication date: 9 November 2010

Jonathan Merritt

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in the UK. The development of the role is charted from its inception under the…

3179

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in the UK. The development of the role is charted from its inception under the Police Reform Act 2002. The present lived experiences of PCSOs, their colleagues and middle to senior managers have been used to assess the likely future direction of the role and responsibilities of these “public auxiliaries”.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 39 serving officers from three police forces. The corpus of data was analysed for ideal types identified in previous academic work, varying models or complete alternatives.

Findings

It was found that the PCSO role can be viewed as a continuum from what is termed in this piece, a “Junior Enforcer” role with a remit to assist constables to a “Bridge Builder” or uniformed community development worker at the other extreme. The study found that there is a marked drift towards the role of “Junior Enforcer” but that paradoxically this can assist, rather than be an alternative to “Bridge Builder” activities.

Practical implications

A strengthened enforcement role can assist with resolving community issues. The challenge going forward will be to maintain a balance between the extremes of the role. Too few or too less enforcement powers will undermine effectiveness, whereas a concentration on enforcement will ultimately damage the ability of the PCSO to engage with hard‐to‐reach communities.

Originality/value

Very little if any independent fieldwork is being done with UK “quasi‐police”, the most recent major studies having taken place soon after their inception in 2002. Exploration of the experiences of serving officers best illustrates the practical issues legislation, policy and procedure generate.

Details

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, vol. 33 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-951X

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Article
Publication date: 29 May 2009

Jonathan Merritt

This paper seeks to assess the fitness for purpose of state regulation of police powers in England and Wales given the increasing “civilianisation” of policing. Specifically, it…

1794

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to assess the fitness for purpose of state regulation of police powers in England and Wales given the increasing “civilianisation” of policing. Specifically, it seeks to evaluate how well the law regulates the main powers of the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). The initial phase of public consultation on general police powers was completed in May 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical approach has been taken to the current statutory provisions to assess their suitability for the PCSO. A social constructivist line has been taken with respect to that role and how the powers impact on its wider perception. The points are illustrated with reference to the developmental path and history of the role. This paper recommends addressing the PCSO “powers question” with a simple solution, which better serves the PCSO in practice: the greater use of the concept of “citizens” arrest'. The primary benefit is that clarity would be added to an ill‐defined role. Comparisons are made with jurisdictions such as The Netherlands and USA to underscore the points made.

Findings

There may be lacuna in the legislative provisions, as they do not appear to cover the actions of a PCSO without a purposive interpretation of the law. A further layer of legislation may be counterproductive.

Practical implications

Legislators are urged to encourage the full utilisation of existing civilian powers before rushing to create further rules on the powers of auxiliaries like PCSOs.

Originality/value

There is considerable literature on the powers of the police. Less evident is commentary on how well the legislative framework actually serves public auxiliaries like the PCSO.

Details

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, vol. 32 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-951X

Keywords

Available. Content available
Article
Publication date: 15 February 2016

Michael Chattalas and Bernadett Koles

384

Abstract

Details

Management Research Review, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8269

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Article
Publication date: 10 August 2015

Simplice Asongu

The purpose of this paper is to complement theoretical and qualitative literature with empirical evidence on the income-redistributive effect of mobile phone penetration in 52…

2523

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to complement theoretical and qualitative literature with empirical evidence on the income-redistributive effect of mobile phone penetration in 52 African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Robust ordinary least squares and two stage least squares empirical strategies are employed.

Findings

The findings suggest that mobile penetration is pro-poor, as it has a positive income equality effect.

Social implications

“Mobile phone”-oriented poverty reduction channels are discussed.

Originality/value

It deviates from mainstream country-specific and microeconomic survey-based approaches in the literature and provides the first macroeconomic assessment of the “mobile phone”-inequality nexus.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 42 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

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Article
Publication date: 20 November 2023

Daniel B. Yanich, Jennifer C. Gibbs, Jennifer L. Schally, Kaylie Derrickson and Daniel Howard

Internationally publicized cases of police violence against unarmed black men have led to calls for accountability in policing. Increased footage of police–public interactions…

230

Abstract

Purpose

Internationally publicized cases of police violence against unarmed black men have led to calls for accountability in policing. Increased footage of police–public interactions, specifically through the form of police body-worn cameras (BWCs), is encouraged and considered an innovation that can improve the policing profession. However, BWC adoption is likely more feasible in big city departments than in small and rural departments, who respond to many of the same issues as their larger counterparts. The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions of BWC among leaders of small and rural police departments.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a mixed methods approach, the authors surveyed 349 chiefs of small and rural Pennsylvania police departments and conducted qualitative follow-up interviews with 53 chiefs.

Findings

The results indicate that both adopters and non-adopters esteem BWC in a positive light, particularly toward the ability to improve professionalism and police–community relations. Other findings and implications of these results will be discussed.

Originality/value

This study focuses on small and rural police departments, which make up the majority of police departments but are often understudied.

Details

Policing: An International Journal, vol. 47 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-951X

Keywords

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Book part
Publication date: 12 March 2001

Abstract

Details

The Long-Term Economics of Climate Change: Beyond a Doubling of Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-0-76230-305-2

Available. Content available
Book part
Publication date: 19 December 2017

Karin Klenke

Free Access. Free Access

Abstract

Details

Women in Leadership 2nd Edition
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-064-8

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Article
Publication date: 11 January 2016

Simplice A. Asongu and Jacinta C. Nwachukwu

Education as a weapon in the fight against conflict and violence remains widely debated in policy and academic circles. Against the background of growing political instability in…

1362

Abstract

Purpose

Education as a weapon in the fight against conflict and violence remains widely debated in policy and academic circles. Against the background of growing political instability in Africa and the central role of the knowledge economy in twenty-first century development, this paper provides three contributions to existing literature. The purpose of this paper is to assess how political stability/non-violence is linked to the incremental, synergy and lifelong learning effects of education.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors define lifelong learning as the combined knowledge acquired during primary, secondary and tertiary education. Principal component analysis is used to reduce the dimensions of educational and political indicators. An endogeneity robust dynamic system Generalized Methods of Moments is used for the estimations.

Findings

The authors establish three main findings. First, education is a useful weapon in the fight against political instability. Second, there is an incremental effect of education in the transition from secondary to tertiary schools. Third, lifelong learning also has positive and synergy effects. This means that the impact of lifelong learning is higher than the combined independent effects of various educational levels. The empirical evidence is based on 53 African countries for the period 1996-2010.

Practical implications

A plethora of policy implications are discussed, inter alia: how the drive towards increasing the knowledge economy through lifelong learning can be an effective tool in the fight against violence and political insurgency in Africa.

Originality/value

As the continent is nursing knowledge economy ambitions, the paper is original in investigating the determinants of political stability/non-violence from three dimensions of education attainment: the incremental, the lifelong learning and a synergy effect.

Details

Journal of Economic Studies, vol. 43 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3585

Keywords

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Book part
Publication date: 23 November 2012

Ralph W. Larkin

School rampage shootings are acts of terrorism. As Walter Laqueur (1977) noted, “…Terrorists’ attitudes toward the media as a whole have been friendly, and with good reason. The…

Abstract

School rampage shootings are acts of terrorism. As Walter Laqueur (1977) noted, “…Terrorists’ attitudes toward the media as a whole have been friendly, and with good reason. The success of a terrorist operation depends almost entirely on the amount of publicity it receives” (p. 109, emphasis added). School rampage shootings qualitatively changed after Columbine from merely realized revenge fantasies to orchestrated media events (Larkin, 2009). Laqueur noted in reference to terrorist acts that they are “propaganda by deed” (1977, p. 49). The more outrageous the act, the more “senseless” in terms of conventional interpretations of reality, the greater the body count, the larger and more intense the media feeding frenzy. Innocent victims are thus sacrificed to the perpetrators’ need to be recognized and to be taken seriously. In the wake of (Columbine shooters) Harris and Klebold's “Basement Tapes,” videotapes of their activities and fantasies, web pages, diaries, doodles, lists, and even school paper assignments, it is now incumbent on any rampage shooter to produce a manifesto, videotapes, pictures, websites, and messages in any newly invented medium to vent his anger, frustration, theory of revolution, and rationale for his act. I use the term “his” because rampage shootings are, in part, a response to a crisis in hegemonic masculinity (Kellner, 2008; Kimmel & Mahler, 2003; Larkin, 2011), which has been mentioned by several researchers in this volume.

Details

School Shootings: Mediatized Violence in a Global Age
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78052-919-6

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