PDRA Research Project

Local policing in Scotland

Supervisor: Dr Kenneth Scott University of the West of Scotland

Researcher: Dr Elisabeth Aston University of the West of Scotland

Elizabeth Aston's website...

Introduction:

Michael Banton's study (1964) of The Policeman in the Community is widely regarded as the first academic study of policing to be carried out in Britain. Part of that study was a description of 24 hours in the working lives of police officers in an unnamed Scottish city, which can readily be identified as Edinburgh. This study of policing in a Scottish community remains not only a classic, but almost the only piece of research on local policing in Scotland. The purpose of the present project is to fill that gap in our understanding of what is involved in policing in Scottish communities at the local level at the beginning of the 21st century.

Banton, M. (1964) The Policeman in the Community. London: Tavistock.

Aim and Objectives

To investigate local policing in three communities in Scotland in terms of police activity, policing priorities and public expectations.

To establish the nature, range and extent of policing activities in local communities.
To analyse findings in relation to current and potential models of community policing.
To determine how local commanders decide upon priorities in local policing.
To identify those factors which contribute to and/or constrain policing in local areas and to develop an understanding of how overall strategic objectives are implemented at community level.
To determine how and to what extent local policing reflects the expectations of the local communities in which it takes place.
To identify processes and models which can contribute to effective policing in local communities.

Publications:

Links to publications will be added here in due course.