Citizen-led policing, Watch Groups and responding to security ‘crises’

• In Event: POL Panel 9. Privatisation and pluralisation in policing and its impact on police, partners and the public

Abstract

This paper considers Watch Groups (WGs) in the UK, which are groups of self-mobilised citizens responding to various perceived security crises. These groups increasingly coalesce around issues perceived to be neglected or ignored by the formal police actors such as low-level social disorder, shoplifting, illegal immigration or child abuse.

The growth of such groups has been facilitated by online platforms such as Facebook which have connected by individual group members together as well as allowing watch groups themselves to form networks and alliances in combatting perceived threats. The affordances of online platforms for such groups is a key focus of the paper.

Our paper presents initial findings from a project exploring WGs as part of which we engage directly with members of such groups. The paper contributes insights from interviews with WG members and associated stakeholders, and analysis of WG communications online.

Authors

• Xavier L'Hoiry, University of Sheffield

• Keith Spiller, University of Southampton

• Amy Stevens, University of Sheffield