Police and Policing
The development of Australian policing was shaped by:
Colonial experiments from British Empire and beyond
Federation settlement making policing a State-based responsibility
Mix of early policing models:
Military personnel
Convicts acting as night patrols
Indigenous personnel forming "Native Police"
"Police system" established in Van Dieman's Land (1824)
Sydney Police Act 1833 - First explicit police Act
Created police organization
Established range of offences and penalties
Included administrative and judicial functions
Town Police Act 1838 - Expanded policing beyond Sydney
Jurisdiction | Key Features |
New South Wales | Largest force (19,000 staff), $3.359M budget (2014-15) |
Victoria | $2.454M budget (2014-15) |
Queensland | $1.682M budget (2014-15) |
ACT | Contracted services from AFP |
Police per 100,000 population:
ACT: 219
NSW: 232
Victoria: 281
Northern Territory: 700
Gender representation: 32.1% female staff (all roles)
Indigenous staff representation below population proportion in most jurisdictions
Characteristics include:
Sense of "mission" as a way of life
Action orientation
Constant suspicion
Isolation from general community
Code of solidarity
Self-portrayal as the "thin blue line"
Key aspects:
Increases down the hierarchy
Operates under permissive laws
Involves multiple factors beyond law enforcement
Applies to:
Resource deployment
Setting priorities
Types of responses
Individual officer decisions
Governing principles:
Minimum force necessary
Proportionate response
Reasonable in circumstances
Issues with less-lethal weapons:
TASERS
OC Pepper spray
Ongoing concerns about appropriateness
Multiple layers:
Criminal and civil law
Internal regulations
Disciplinary processes
External review agencies
Government oversight
Growing complexity in policing landscape:
Private security providers
Hybrid forms of policing
Public-private partnerships
Networked policing arrangements
Body-worn cameras
Enhanced evidence collection
Increased accountability
Family violence documentation
Surveillance capabilities
Data management systems
Increasing workforce diversity
Improving community relations
Enhancing accountability measures
Adapting to new security challenges
Managing technological integration
Module 2: Role of police
2.2 Police and Policing
Policing as social control
Understood as the organised ways in which society respons to behaviour and people it regards as deviant, problematic, worrying, threatening, troublesome or undesirable.
It involves surveillance to discover actual or anticipated breaches, and the threat or mobilzation of sanctions to ensure the securty of the social order.
Policing: Broad concept involving supervision, law enforcement, public order, and social control.
Police: A specialized body responsible for the legitimate use of force to maintain order.
Other entities may also contribute to policing beyond formal police forces.
Societal response to behavior deemed deviant, problematic, threatening, or undesirable.
Includes surveillance to prevent breaches and the threat of sanctions to maintain order.
Police act as agents of social control by enforcing laws.
Emergence linked to industrialization & urbanization (Europe, 18th–19th century).
Urban growth led to new social problems: poverty, unemployment, vagrancy, inequality, and crime.
Traditional informal community policing became ineffective.
Rise of structured policing to maintain public order in growing cities.
1750s: Policing experiments in the UK due to rising crime in cities.
1800: Thames River Police Act – early formalized police force.
1829: Metropolitan Police established by Sir Robert Peel (founder of modern policing).
The goal was preventative policing, maintaining constant scrutiny over society.
Police have the state-sanctioned right to use coercive force.
The police enforce government policies (e.g., COVID-19 lockdown enforcement).
They play a critical role in maintaining social order.
Some societies have highly trained police, while others lack sufficient training.
Positive View: Police as protectors, crime solvers, and public servants.
Negative View: Police as enforcers of state power, potential for abuse (e.g., police brutality).
Key Debate: Are police heroes or villains?
Some see them as necessary for security.
Others highlight abuses of power and systemic issues (e.g., racial profiling, excessive force).
How does policing evolve with societal changes?
What is the balance between necessary enforcement and excessive control?
How do different societies perceive and regulate their police forces?
2.3 Policing in Australia
Police are the responsibility of state and territory governments.
Each state/territory has its own police force (e.g., SAPOL – South Australian Police, VicPol – Victoria Police).
ACT does not have its own police force but contracts the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for policing services.
Each state police force sets its own policies and procedures.
Differences exist between states (e.g., penalties for speeding differ in SA vs. Victoria).
Crime reporting varies by jurisdiction, making national-level crime statistics complex.
Despite autonomy, state police forces collaborate on best practices and policies.
Cross-border investigations occur (e.g., someone commits a crime in Brisbane and returns to another state).
Community safety – ensuring public security and addressing dangers.
Crime investigations and apprehensions – solving crimes and arresting offenders.
Road safety enforcement – speed checks, traffic laws.
Judicial services – involvement in law enforcement and the court process.
NSW and Victoria have the largest police forces (20,000+ staff each).
NT and Tasmania have fewer than 2,000 staff.
Adjusting for population size, NT has the highest police-to-population ratio.
Higher police presence often correlates with higher crime levels in some areas.
2019-2020: Australia spent $19 billion on criminal justice:
64% on policing
25% on corrections
9% on courts
Debate on resource allocation: Should funding go towards more patrols or other justice initiatives?
Defunding police should come with a clear plan on where resources go (e.g., social programs, education).
Proactive policing strategies (e.g., education programs in schools) aim to prevent crime before it occurs.
SA Government Proposal: Recruit 400 extra police officers – but where will they be allocated (urban vs. rural areas)?
NSW Government Investment: $27 million over 5 years for police staffing, technology (e.g., drones, cyber capabilities).
Political influence: Governments often emphasize increasing police numbers, but effectiveness depends on allocation and strategy.
2.4 Police Practice
Reactive Policing- Responding to citizen requests for assistance- Answering emergency calls
Proactive Policing- Police-initiated contact with citizens- Specific campaigns and prevention programs
Police officers have discretionary power in:
Decision to intervene in situations
Use of force determinations
Whether to warn, caution, charge, or arrest
Choice of sending cases to court or alternative forums
Key characteristics include:
Strong group solidarity
Support for fellow officers
Suspicion of non-police personnel
Isolation from general community
Action-oriented practices
Important principles:
Must use minimum force necessary
Force must be proportionate and reasonable
Less-than-lethal options available (tasers, pepper spray)
Strict guidelines for high-speed pursuits
Critical factors affecting police legitimacy:
Public cooperation and support
Community trust and relations
Transparency in operations
Ethical conduct and accountability
Direct and indirect experiences of citizens
Terrorism response and prevention
Multicultural representation in police force
Community relations with minority groups
Media influence on public perception
Balance between security and individual rights