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Reflexivity and Criminal Justice pp 215–236Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

The Politics of Establishing Reflexivity as a Core Component of Good Policing

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Abstract

This chapter presents an argument favouring reflexivity as an important component in establishing what it means to be a good police officer. The term reflexivity is used here to denote a fully developed and enhanced reflective practitioner as presented within Schön’s (1991[1983]) seminal contribution. We see an officer’s reflexivity improving the more he/she reflects upon a wide range of variables when dealing with policing matters. This includes reflecting upon past experiences and performance, but also legal knowledge, awareness of force policy, appreciation of socio-economic and demographic circumstances and other factors that frame the professional practice contexts in which the officer is operating.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Kinsella (2007) identifies especially Polanyi (1967) and Ryle (1949).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK

    Dominic A. Wood & Emma Williams

Authors
  1. Dominic A. Wood
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  2. Emma Williams
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

    Sarah Armstrong

  2. Menzies Building, Monash University, School of Social Sciences, Clayton, Australia

    Jarrett Blaustein

  3. Law School, Old College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Alistair Henry

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Wood, D.A., Williams, E. (2017). The Politics of Establishing Reflexivity as a Core Component of Good Policing. In: Armstrong, S., Blaustein, J., Henry, A. (eds) Reflexivity and Criminal Justice. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54642-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54642-5_10

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-54641-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-54642-5

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