The primary concern of this thesis is to examine changes in policing practice with reference to police/public relations in England and Wales in the light of evidence of a deterioration of the relationships between the police and the public. The secondary aim is to examine the implications for policing policy in Turkey of the lessons learned from the experience of such experiments and changes in the development of policing policy in England and Wales. The thesis argues that a community-based model of policing is the ideal for policing of modern liberal democratic societies; and community policing practices are transferable to countries striving to develop modern democratic systems such as Turkey. The thesis assesses the prognosis for the achievement of this ideal in both countries. It emphasises that community policing has become the new orthodoxy for the police in England and Wales, as well as in other countries around the world. Although the movement's philosophies and practices are spreading rapidly, much of the debate is carried out at a rhetorical level and little is known about the range of ongoing activities, the components of these experimental initiatives, the problems and challenges encountered, and the level of success in achieving objectives. There are fundamental differences in the historical development and political position of the police forces in these two countries. However, police services are under pressure from diverse interests and constituencies to change their styles of policing in order to secure legitimate law enforcement in the light of rapid social change. The reasons for this pressure for change will be examined in both countries. Firstly, the British experience will be analysed notably with reference to the historical antecedents which secured a broad legitimacy for a consensual style of policing which it may be argued is in existence despite serious outbreaks of urban disorder. However, the thesis shows that the gulf between the police and some sections of the community is widening, resulting in a substantial proportion (notably of the black population) lacking confidence and trust in the police. Interest has also focused on the apparent failure of some police forces to control crime. Secondly, the history of the current Turkish police tradition is analysed and rationales for change explained with fluctuations in police/public legitimacy traced and accounted for. Pressure for change to enhance police legitimacy and public relations is identified and the possibility of lessons being learned from the British experience assessed, notably with reference to initiatives to present the police as a service to communities. The thesis concludes that, both for England and Wales and Turkey, the success of community policing initiatives is heavily dependent on the commitment and participation of both sides, the police and the community in both countries.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:674404 |
| Date | January 1995 |
| Creators | Kavgaci, Halil Ibrahim |
| Publisher | University of Leicester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/2381/35276 |
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