Models of police oversight: A critique

Reconceptualising the police complaints process as a site of contested legitimacy claims

“…Second, while analytical and empirical studies have discussed different types of independence (Smith 2009) and considered differing levels of independent oversight (Prenzler and Ronken 2001) they have also queried the effectiveness and even the possibility of true independence (Savage 2013a(Savage , 2013b. There is, therefore, a reasonable concern that the idea of independent involvement may operate to increase general public confidence in the system when the de facto level of independence it embodies is considerably less than commonly understood (Savage 2015: 36).…”

“…One focuses on the practical functions of the process and, in particular, on complainants' needs and experiences (Maguire and Corbet 1991, Landau 1996, Learch 1998, Strudwick 2003, Waters and Brown 2000, Smith 2001. A second considers the need for external involvement in the police complaints system and the difficulties inherent in achieving such involvement (Goldsmith 1991, Goldsmith and Lewis 2000, Porter and Prenzler 2012, Prenzler et al 2013, Prenzler and Ronken 2001, Savage 2013a, 2013b. While acknowledging the importance of both bodies of work, this article seeks to introduce a new approach.…”

The New Transparency: Police Violence in the Context of Ubiquitous Surveillance

“…Most of the police activities should be open to scrutiny and subject to reports to regular outside bodies" (Sen, 2010, p. 9). Prenzler and Ronken (2001) reviewed several decades of research throughout the Anglophone world to systematically review predominating models of police accountability. Initial police accountability included accountability to law and to elected officials, to which was later added internal investigations and review by external agencies.…”

Policing the police in the United Kingdom

“…Thus, an effective complaints system must have adequate remedies, including making wrongdoers accountable for their behaviour, encouraging them to repair the harm they have caused, and satisfying the complainant that their case has been appropriately handled. Prenzler and Ronken (2001), in their theoretical paper on the best form of control of police conduct, identify three models for police complaints systems: internal, civilian 6 P o s t -P r i n t control and civilian review. Where complaints are dealt with internally, the only oversight provided is by the courts, in cases where police officers are prosecuted, and elected officials, in the form of police authorities.…”

“…Although the Police Complaints Authority was in fact independent of the police, the complaints system as a whole did not possess sufficient actual 4 and perceived 5 independence. It is reasonably clear that only a system which is wholly independent of the police service, the civilian control model (Prenzler and Ronken 2001), can secure the confidence, not only of the public, but also the rank and file of police (Reiner 1992: 236;Waters and Brown 2000: 633;Police Federation 1997;KPMG 2000: 42).…”