An exploration of police use of firearms in Australia
- Authors: Baker, David
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Police Use of Force: A Global perspective p. 141-151
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Police Use of Force: A Global Perspective is a fascinating, international exploration of police use of force, firearms, and less-than-lethal weapons in nations around the world. The book is comprised of three sections: the first focuses on the use of force generally, the second explores firearms and deadly force, and the final section considers less-than-lethal weapons, including pepper spray, TASERs, and other emerging technologies currently on the horizon. The essays gathered here will provide readers with an understanding of the vast differences in how police use force in various countries, as well as why police use force differently under different forms of government. Topics covered include use-of-force definitions, training procedures, policy issues, abuse of police authority, use of force during interrogations, and the use of firearms by armed and unarmed police forces. Finally, there is an essay focusing on how shooting and killing a suspect impacts an officer in the months and years that follow. "From the publisher"
A case study of policing responses to camps for climate action: variations, perplexities, and challenges for policing
- Authors: Baker, David
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Vol. 35, no. 2 (2011), p. 141-165
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The policing of protest is complex, uncertain, and problematic. Contemporary Camps for Climate Action in the United Kingdom have produced a range of police attitudes and responses to changing protest events. The policing of these camps, conglomerations of affinity groups, challenges police capability both to accommodate such protests and to maintain security, control and order. This article analyses and contrasts the two most recent UK climate camps at Kingsnorth (2008) and Blackheath (2009). The case studies reveal how both internal and external inquiries have acted as catalysts for police attitudinal change for handling climate camp protests. Although police and protesters maintain some traditional mutual suspicion of each other and although the police organizational structure is an anathema to climate-campers, the article stresses the importance of meaningful dialogue and negotiation between police and protesters for the successful facilitation of peaceful protest, especially in relation to ongoing climate change dissent.
Policing protest, security and freedom : The 2014 G20 experience
- Authors: Baker, David , Bronitt, Simon , Stenning, Philip
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Police Practice and Research Vol. 18, no. 5 (2017), p. 425-448
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article examines the policing of a major international political event (the G20 Meetings in Brisbane, Australia in 2014) from the perspective of the police and representatives of demonstrator groups who participated in the event. The article locates the policing of the 2014 G20 meetings within the history of the policing of major international political meetings in other countries. It analyses the legal framework within which the policing of the Brisbane G20 meeting was undertaken, comparing and contrasting these with legal frameworks developed for similar meetings and associated demonstrations in other jurisdictions. In the case of the Australian G20 Act, the legislation prioritized security over human rights, including the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. The strategies and planning processes applied by police in the lead up to the G20 are discussed, including the efforts made to ensure policing responses were respectful of the democratic rights of protesters. Drawing on interview and other data, the article reveals a diversity of perspectives on the ‘human rights’ policing and dialogue models, and provides an assessment of ‘Operation Southern Cross’ based on the post-event review of the G20 legislation undertaken by the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission. The authors conclude that the policing of G20, based on extensive dialogue and minimization of coercive public order strategies, fostered a peaceful G20 event. The article concludes with observations about the perceived success of G20 policing in Australia, and indicates some lessons learned for best practice policing for future global events. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.