What is the definition of police corruption?
‘Acts involving the misuse of authority or power by a police officer in a manner designed to produce personal gain for him/herself of for others’
What are the two main parts which identifies corruption?
- Misuse of authority
2. Personal gain
What are the three categories of corruption?
- Misfeasance : legal duty performed wrong
- Nonfeasance: Not doing what you’re supposed to
- Malfeasance: a wrong act; intentional commission of a prohibited act
What are the costs of corruption?
- Undermines law enforcement
- Undermines professionalism
- Undermines effectiveness of CJS
- Undermines public confidence
The most common form of corruption is?
Gratuities
What are the pro’s of gratuities?
- Natural way to show appreciation
- Maintains a good relationship between police and public
- The police do a difficult job so deserve considerate treatment
- The police should be able to tell the difference between appreciation and a bribe
- Are gratuities significant enough to be classed as corruption?
What are some cons regarding gratuities?
- Sense of obligation towards the person
- Accepting gratuities implies the officer is not acting solely of the basis of public duty.
- Insinuates that the police are more deserving than others
- If the officer is weak and inexperienced then they may not be able to tell the difference between appreciation and a bribe
How prevalent is corruption in the UK according to the Home Office (Miller 2003)?
In 8 forces it is estimated that between 0.5% and 1% of police staff were potentially corrupt.
What are the internal strategies of control?
Policies: setting standards of behaviour, being consistent in police operations, training, supervision and discipline.
What are the external strategies of control?
- Special investigations e.g. SOCA
- Criminal prosecution (rare as normally told to take long leave or retire)
- Public opinion
- Citizen oversight of the police (PCC)
- Changes in law
How does the police working environment breed police deviance?
- Lack of supervision
- Low visibility
- Variables in the environment
- Opportunities and temptation
- Moral cynicism (seeing other officers do it)
- Police specifically targeted by organised crime
