ROLE OF POLICE

Realists believe that the role of police should be to focus on controlling the streets so that law-abiding citizens feel safe. They advocate “a zero tolerance” policy towards undesirable behaviour. Such as prostitution, begging and drunkenness.Advocating a “zero tolerance” policy gives police free rein to discriminate against ethnic minorities youth and homeless.

Realists

Are they doing their job?

http://gu.com/p/36hjf

What do the Marxists believe?

The police are influenced by stereotypes, racism, sexism and homophobia. They see members of the

public as actual or potential criminals.

W

H

Y

?

Marxism

• Laws reflect the interest of the bourgeoisie and the police enforce these laws.

• Marxists believe that the police are seen as distinct and separate from the public.

• Relationships between the police and public are often uneasy and even hostile they are suspicious of each other or even seen as enemies.

• Police rely heavily upon technology and surveillance rather than co operation from the public.

Discretion

Discretion can allow policing to be flexible or sensitive but may also lead to discrimination and injustice.

Reiner suggest 3 ways to explaining police discretion:

Structural explanations- This is the Marxists view of the police, they believe that the police are an agent working for the bourgeoisie.

Cultural explanations- police have a distinctive culture –canteen culture- which means they are suspicious macho, white, homophobic

Individualist explanations- the individual officers use discretion in particular ways.