NCJ Number
208837
Date Published
2005
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Looking back on the issues that occasioned the establishment of a Royal Commission on the Police in Britain in the 1960's, this chapter identifies and discusses two styles of police accountability: "subordinate and obedient" and "explanatory and cooperative."
Abstract
Accountability through subordination and obedience is akin to a relationship in which orders are issued and then followed. This approach to police accountability has been largely replaced by the "explanatory and cooperative" approach, which is based on requiring information about an event at issue and explanations for actions and decisions that led to questionable outcomes. The British Police Act of 1976 and the various regulations stemming from it introduced a new entity into police accountability, the Police Complaints Board. This provides a mechanism for the independent review of existing disciplinary procedures related to the activities of individual constables. It does not provide a forum for complaints against collective police activities or department-wide policies of the kind mentioned in the Royal Commission Report. A gap may remain to be filled by some body that can act to require that police executive decisions be challenged to require explanation and be subject to advice and recommendations without dismantling the discretion decision-making essential for police executives. 26 notes