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What is a professional police? Understanding professionalization in England and Wales
Thu, September 4, 8:00 to 9:15am, Communications Building (CN), CN 2113Abstract
Over the past decades, discussions about (more or less chronic) problems within the police, both nationally and internationally, have often led to the same conclusions and recommendations: that further professionalization of the police is necessary. Regardless of how diverse the nature and background of these problems may be, professionalization of police work is frequently presented as the clear solution. It seems to be a recommendation that carries a high degree of self-evidence and plausibility. Simultaneously, professionalism, or professionalization, lacks clear meaning, and its application within different national contexts varies.
The police are increasingly required to find answers at all levels of their organization to new and often far-reaching developments in society and technology. Meeting these challenges requires developing and applying more in-depth knowledge, as well as the ability and willingness to innovate and turn new methods into practical tools. These aspects are part of the idea of professionalizing the police, yet the precise definition and range of what professionalization entails remain unclear.
This presentation focuses on the case of England and Wales. As part of an international comparative study, the case of England and Wales draws our attention as their focus lies on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of police interventions. This approach places significant emphasis on expanding evidence-based (often experimental) research, establishing What Works centers, and developing protocols for police interventions recognized as effective (Fielding et al. 2020). This focus goes hand in hand with the requirement of police officers having a bachelor’s degree. This presentation will delve into the exploration of this case study.