ATS1282 Study Guide - Final Guide: Natural Justice, Decision-Making, Greater Media
Document Summary
Deep divisions exist at a wider community level and within police circles regarding the appropriate objectives and styles of policing. Tensions over philosophy/practises/structure stem in part from the conflicts generated by/accompanying day-to-day police work. Particular sections of population concerned about over-policing" (e. g. indigenous and arabic background people) and under-policing" (e. g. racist or homophobic violence) More general concerns r/e police mistreatment of suspects/alleged offenders and police corruption. Extraordinary powers to draw upon in police interventions these powers/social power police embody = source of constant public concern. Powers are there to be used but how they are used is dependant on a range of factors (e. g. departmental policies, attitudes of officer, operational area, wider political environment) Regardless of task orientation > work of police rests upon a foundation of socially legitimate coercive power. Police are perpetually required to select from a range of alternative courses of action.