Community, Policing and Accountability: The Politics of Policing in Manchester in the 1980s

This 1994 book explores police accountability models in the 1980s and the construction of a new social contract between the police and the community in Manchester. It evaluates the effectiveness of the reorganization of policing in achieving more accountable service and discusses the complexities of constructing satisfactory police-community relations in Britain's inner cities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 1994, this groundbreaking work delves into the diverse models of police accountability that emerged in the 1980s. Drawing upon extensive research conducted in Manchester, it explores the local government's efforts to forge a new social contract between the police and the community. Situated within the broader theoretical discourse surrounding participatory democracy, this research offers valuable insights into the complexities of constructing harmonious police-community relations in Britain's inner cities. In its conclusion, the work emphasizes the urgent need to address the multifaceted challenges of establishing satisfactory police-community relations. It assesses whether the reorganization of policing at the time resulted in a more accountable police service, a question that remains relevant in the ongoing debates surrounding police accountability and police race relations.

This book stands as a pioneering contribution, as it was one of the earliest works in this country to advocate for an abolitionist stance, which has now become a central theme in the discussions surrounding Black Lives Matter. When read in the context of the ongoing debates on police accountability and police race relations, it provides a thought-provoking perspective and sheds light on the ongoing challenges and efforts to promote equity and justice in law enforcement.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032412160