Policing the Police

This book examines the various systems, processes, and agencies responsible for overseeing police conduct across Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and to a lesser extent, the United States, and Republic of Ireland. It argues that while police oversight systems have improved in their capacities to hold police accountable internationally, they continue to be plagued by internal and external issues that inhibit their full potential in serving as high-standard gatekeepers for police conduct. The lack of legislative and investigative powers, independence, and authority contribute to the limited efficacy of police oversight systems and thereby jeopardize the capacity for which the various agencies can deliver, maintain, and uphold accountability of our law enforcement. This book provides an in-depth discussion of the disparate police oversight systems across multiple jurisdictions. Specifically, serious incident response teams-those responsible for investigating critical incidents involving the police and the public-and complaints agencies are examined to illustrate how these oversight systems function and the role they play in holding police accountable. The book carefully details the similarities, differences, issues and challenges, and leading practices between and within jurisdictions to highlight the complex nature of police oversight and the constant pressure to improve and respond to public demands for accountability. This book will therefore be of interest to students and scholars of policing studies, as well as professionals and policymakers engaged with policing.

Erick Laming is an Associate Professor of Criminology in the Department of Sociology at Trent University. His research focuses on police use of force, police oversight and accountability. His broader research interests include corrections, criminal justice policy and reform, comparative criminal justice, race and the criminal justice system, and dark tourism.

1. Introduction Section I Police Accountability and the Construction of Police Oversight 2. Police Accountability and Oversight 3. Police Oversight Models Section II Serious Incident Response Teams and Police Oversight 4. Serious Incident Response Agency Mandates 5. Oversight of Serious Incidents Involving Police in Canada 6. Oversight of Serious Incidents Involving Police in the United Kingdom 7. Oversight of Serious Incidents Involving Police in Australia and New Zealand 8. Oversight of Serious Incidents Involving Police in the United States and Republic of Ireland Section III Complaints Agencies and Police Oversight 9. Police Complaints Agency Mandates 10. Oversight of Police Complaints in Canada 11. Oversight of Police Complaints in the United Kingdom 12. Oversight of Police Complaints in Australia and New Zealand 13. Oversight of Police Complaints in the United States and Republic of Ireland Section IV Going Forward with Police Oversight 14. Assessing Police Oversight 15. Best and Leading Practices of Police Oversight