Summary
This report argues that policing is undergoing an historic restructuring in most democratic countries, then describes the forms that this restructuring is taking, the reasons for the restructuring, and the issues that it raises for governance, especially with respect to the issues of justice, equality of protection, and quality of service. Those who authorize policing are being separated from those who do it, and both functions being transferred away from government. Privatization is an inaccurate description of the change; multilateralization is a more appropriate description. The five auspices under which policing is currently authorized include economic interests, both legal and illegal; residential communities; cultural communities; individuals; and governments. Commercial companies, nongovernmental authorizers of policing, individuals, and governments provide policing. Many nongovernmental providers now perform the same tasks as the public police. The report concludes that it is important for governments to continue to safeguard justice, equity, and quality of service in the current restructuring of policing and that factors inside and outside contemporary nation-states are challenging policing. (Source: NCJRS)