On the release of Baroness Casey’s damning report of the Met police, here are eight books that offer ways of understanding police culture and present less misogynistic, racist and homophobic ways of policing:
Crime, Justice and COVID-19 edited by Christopher Kay and Stephen Case
This edited collection offers the first system-wide account of the impact of COVID-19 on crime and justice in England and Wales. Integrating first-hand narratives, it provides a critical discussion of the challenges faced by criminal justice agencies, together with policy and practice recommendations for future pandemic planning.
Defund the Police by Chris Cunneen
This book examines the ‘defund the police’ movement from historical and contemporary perspectives. Against the backdrop of abolition and the failure of police reform, it uses international case studies to reimagine community safety beyond policing and imprisonment.
Policing the Pandemic: How Public Health Becomes Public Order by Lambros Fatsis and Melayna Lamb
Written in the context of the #BlackLivesMatter protests, this book explores why law enforcement responses to a public health emergency are prioritised over welfare provision and what this tells us about the state’s criminal justice institutions.
Good Policing: Trust, Legitimacy and Authority by Mike Hough
Renowned criminologist Mike Hough considers how the police service might build trust, legitimacy and compliance with the law in this important book. He challenges conventional thinking on crime, contrasts ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ policing styles and offers a fresh approach that secures compliance with the law through ethical policing.
Towards Ethical Policing by Dominic Wood
The fundamental role of police officers in society is under fresh scrutiny in this stimulating book on ethical policing. Through a moral philosophical lens, Wood provides an up-to-date overview of police values and their impact. It is a timely contribution to police debate and essential reading for those studying and leading the profession.
Critical Perspectives on Police Leadership by Claire Davis and Marisa Silvestri
This is a critical analysis of our understanding of police leadership and a bold new conceptualisation of the subject. Drawing on criminology, sociology and leadership studies and critical theory, leading authors Davis and Silvestri provide a critique of police leadership as a product of social, institutional and historical processes.
Hidden Stories of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: Personal Reflections by Richard Stone
This unique book provides an insider’s view of the seminal inquiry into Stephen Lawrence’s murder. This accessible and engaging book includes analysis of hitherto inaccessible transcripts which show how the Inquiry was undermined to the point of failure to produce the desired results.
Police Diversity: Beyond the Blue by Tara Lai Quinlan
Providing a unique ‘insider’ perspective on police diversity, this book reveals the current tensions between the police and diverse populations in the UK and US. It demonstrates the obstacles to progress, revealing how championing diversity as part of police reform efforts can positively impact the lives of policed communities.
Browse our full policing list.
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