SOCI8018
Policing in comparative perspective
Offer semester
Lecture time
Lecture venue
Credits awarded
2nd semester
Wednesday
19:00 – 21:50
CPD-2.37
6
What do we expect the police to do, and who should hold them accountable when things go wrong? This course examines policing as both a formal state institution and a wider social function carried out by public police, private security, regulatory bodies, and transnational networks.
Using the United Kingdom, the United States, Hong Kong, and other selected jurisdictions as comparative reference points, the course explores key issues including police powers, discretion, occupational culture, use of force, public order policing, accountability, legitimacy, surveillance technologies, algorithmic policing, and transnational crime.
Through theoretical, historical, and comparative analysis, students will critically examine how different societies balance the demands of security, order, accountability, and civil liberties.
Critically analyze the historical evolution and theoretical models of policing in comparative contexts (e.g., Hong Kong, UK, USA).
Evaluate contemporary policing strategies, policies, and the impact of privatization and technology on crime control and civil liberties.
Identify and assess the sociological factors influencing police behavior, including occupational culture, implicit bias, and institutional corruption.
Communicate complex criminological concepts effectively through oral presentations and academic writing, utilizing real-world case studies.
Tasks
Weighting
Group Presentation
30%
Written paper
40%
Individual presentation
20%
Class Participation
10%
Core Texts
Students will be guided through selected chapters from the following two core texts:
Newburn, T. (Ed.). (2005). Policing: Key Readings. Willan Publishing.
Newburn, T. (Ed.). (2008/2009). Handbook of Policing (2nd ed.). Willan Publishing.
These two volumes provide the conceptual foundation for the course, covering the development of modern policing, police powers, police culture, accountability, criminal investigation, plural policing, the media, and the future of policing.
Selected Essential Readings
The following readings introduce some of the major themes of the course, including police power, police culture, legitimacy, accountability, evidence-based policing, technology, corruption, and global policing. The reading list below is indicative rather than exhaustive. It highlights the key texts that frame the course; additional weekly readings will be provided to enrolled students through the course platform.
Bittner, E. (1970). The Functions of the Police in Modern Society. National Institute of Mental Health.
Mawby, R. I. (2008). Models of policing. In T. Newburn (Ed.), Handbook of Policing (2nd ed., Chapter 2). Willan Publishing.
Shearing, C. D., & Stenning, P. C. (1983). Private security: Implications for social control. Social Problems, 30(5), 493–506.
Tilley, N. (2008). Modern approaches to policing: Community, problem-oriented and intelligence-led. In T. Newburn (Ed.), Handbook of Policing (2nd ed., Chapter 15). Willan Publishing.
Skolnick, J. H. (2005). A sketch of the policeman’s “working personality.” In T. Newburn (Ed.), Policing: Key Readings (pp. 264–279). Willan Publishing.
Jones, T. (2008). The accountability of policing. In T. Newburn (Ed.), Handbook of Policing (2nd ed., Chapter 26). Willan Publishing.
Punch, M. (2009). Police Corruption: Deviance, Accountability and Reform in Policing. Willan Publishing. Selected chapters.
Sherman, L. W. (1998). Evidence-Based Policing. Ideas in American Policing. Police Foundation.
Goldsmith, A. J. (2010). Policing’s new visibility. British Journal of Criminology, 50(5), 914–934.
Bowling, B., & Sheptycki, J. (2012). Global Policing. SAGE Publications. Selected chapters.
Further Recommended Readings
Students who wish to explore particular topics in greater depth may consult the following readings:
Loader, I. (2000). Plural policing and democratic governance. Social & Legal Studies, 9(3), 323–345.
Reicher, S., Stott, C., Cronin, P., & Adang, O. (2004). An integrated approach to crowd psychology and public order policing. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 27(4), 558–572.
Skolnick, J. H. (2002). Corruption and the blue code of silence. Police Practice and Research, 3(1), 7–19.
Lum, C., Koper, C. S., & Telep, C. W. (2011). The Evidence-Based Policing Matrix. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 7(1), 3–26.
Brayne, S. (2017). Big data surveillance: The case of policing. American Sociological Review, 82(5), 977–1008.
Babuta, A., & Oswald, M. (2019). Data Analytics and Algorithmic Bias in Policing. Royal United Services Institute Briefing Paper.
Wong, K. C. (2015). Policing in Hong Kong: History and Reform. CRC Press. Selected chapters.
Offer Semester | Lecture Day | Lecture Time | Venue | Credits awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd semester | Wednesday | 19:00 – 21:50 | CPD-2.37 | 6 |
