Army and the Police

• NCJ Number: 87737
• Journal: Police Journal Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March 1983) Pages: 30-40
• Author(s): Carver
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

The army should be introduced to help ensure public order when the police are not able to deal with widespread disorder, and the principal problems will involve intelligence, coordination and command of operations, the law, and public relations.

Abstract

Generally, there are three views of how serious riots and disorder should be handled in Great Britain. One view is that the police use methods that have traditionally been used in Great Britain, which involves using a solid mass of police that contains the crowd, with a few strategic arrests being made. A second approach supported by some is the deployment of special riot squads armed with a variety of crowd control and dispersion devices. A third approach is the deployment of the army once traditional police methods appear insufficient. The army acts as a special riot squad. Each of the approaches has advantages and disadvantages. The lesser show of force may diminish the chance of escalating violence and provide a better public image of the police, but it may also be ineffective in curtailing widespread public disorder. The use of the specially trained police riot squad can be effective but may damage police-public relations. There is also the problem of how to deploy the unit when it is not needed. The principal advantages of the use of the army are its shock value and a show of force likely to intimidate potential rioters. The disadvantage is its appearance of repression and loss of liberty. When the army is used, the police should keep control of intelligence. While the law may be changed to make the task of the police and army easier and not place them at unreasonable risk, changes in the law should be minimal so as not to compromise traditional principles of democracy. A policy should be pursued that will influence public opinion in support of the army and police and to counter the propaganda of terrorist or opposition groups.