Abstract
Violent clashes between police and minorities in France, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the United States, and Israel are not only deep proofs of the divisions in these societies, but also of the complexity of policing in the modern era, especially among divided societies. "The events of October 2000 shook the country," wrote the members of the Or Commission - the official commission of inquiry that was established following the events - and noted that "the events were exceptional and unusual." As in other parts of the world, the violent clash between the police and the national minority in Israel was a tragic reminder of the troubled relationship between the state and its Arab citizens, as well as the need for a comprehensive reform of police work. This collection, which is published more than a decade after the events, seeks to examine in an empirical, theoretical and comparative perspective the challenges and dilemmas involved in policing in divided societies and in a multi-cultural reality.
Security is a right that every citizen deserves, and an effective and fair police, which is concerned with public order and peace, is a basic need of every community. But in a fractured reality in which questions of identity, belonging and authority are constantly in dispute, questions of justice and fairness are also part of the dispute. In the eyes of minority groups, the police may be perceived, whether rightly or not, as providing unequal service, characterized not only by harshness and violence against minorities (policing), but also by neglect that harms their daily lives (policing). The distrust of the minority groups in the police makes it difficult to function, and sometimes strengthens racist perceptions that add to the decline in trust, and so forth. This reality is not a decree of fate. The Or Commission determined that "there is a need to restore systems in relation to the Arab sector." In this spirit, the articles in this book deal with various aspects of multicultural policing, especially community-oriented policing, in three circles. First, the theoretical circle, which places the issue of police-minorities relations in a broad context, is directed at central issues of multicultural policing. Second, the comparative circle, which presents case studies of reforms implemented in a number of countries dealing with various dilemmas of multicultural policing. Finally, the third circle presents recent studies on the issue of police and Arab society in Israel, which address theoretical and empirical questions with practical implications
Security is a right that every citizen deserves, and an effective and fair police, which is concerned with public order and peace, is a basic need of every community. But in a fractured reality in which questions of identity, belonging and authority are constantly in dispute, questions of justice and fairness are also part of the dispute. In the eyes of minority groups, the police may be perceived, whether rightly or not, as providing unequal service, characterized not only by harshness and violence against minorities (policing), but also by neglect that harms their daily lives (policing). The distrust of the minority groups in the police makes it difficult to function, and sometimes strengthens racist perceptions that add to the decline in trust, and so forth. This reality is not a decree of fate. The Or Commission determined that "there is a need to restore systems in relation to the Arab sector." In this spirit, the articles in this book deal with various aspects of multicultural policing, especially community-oriented policing, in three circles. First, the theoretical circle, which places the issue of police-minorities relations in a broad context, is directed at central issues of multicultural policing. Second, the comparative circle, which presents case studies of reforms implemented in a number of countries dealing with various dilemmas of multicultural policing. Finally, the third circle presents recent studies on the issue of police and Arab society in Israel, which address theoretical and empirical questions with practical implications
Translated title of the contribution | An Outline for democratic policing anywhere in the world? Police Reform, Political Change and Conflict Resolution in Northern Ireland |
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Original language | Other |
Title of host publication | שיטור בחברה משוסעת |
Editors | Uri Gopher, Guy Ben Porat |
Place of Publication | Haifa |
Publisher | Pardes Publishing Israel |
Chapter | 5 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-1-61838-016-6 |
Publication status | Published - 22 May 2015 |