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Northern Ireland—A Case Study in Police Reform?

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Rethinking and Reforming American Policing

Abstract

The author uses a case study of policing in Northern Ireland to suggest that, despite differences, there is useful learning for the USA from reform and development of the RUC post 1969. He argues police must have a clearly understood role and that policing is a social contract between public and police on which each must deliver their part to be effective. A key objective is the attainment of legitimacy both of State and police. Police legitimacy may be achieved through police operational independence, accountability of police, police professionalisation, effective leadership and command and a focus on Community Oriented Policing.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Police Service of Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK

    Kevin Dunwoody

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  1. Kevin Dunwoody
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Correspondence to Kevin Dunwoody .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tegeler Hall, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA

    Joseph A. Schafer

  2. Boulder, CO, USA

    Richard W. Myers

Appendix: A Summary Diagram

Appendix: A Summary Diagram

figure a
figure b

Northern Ireland

figure c

Derry 1969 (open source)

figure d

Derry 1969 (open source)

figure e
figure f

Drumcree Parade Route (open source)

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Dunwoody, K. (2022). Northern Ireland—A Case Study in Police Reform?. In: Schafer, J.A., Myers, R.W. (eds) Rethinking and Reforming American Policing. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88896-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88896-1_14

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-88895-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-88896-1

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