British Police Legitimacy in a Postmodern World

Abstract

This paper will start by examining the postmodern socio-political global context and structure in which the British police play their role. Then, the focus will turn to the pre-conditions that led to a trend of loss of public legitimacy. While exploring the “golden age” in which the police assumed a sacred role and achieved high levels of trust and legitimacy, it will be pointed out that a diffused public legitimacy was favored more by the economic and political conditions and structures of the 1950s than by a particular attitude of the police. The loss of the traditional role and of a precise police identity will also be contextualized and linked with the growth of private security providers. Lastly, proposals toward a more democratic and legitimate police will be made.

Keywords

• british police
• policing
• public legitimacy
• late and post-modernity