Police

:This article is about law enforcement. For the band, see The Police. For the town in Poland, see Police, Poland.

Difficult issues

Some police organizations, especially in multi-racial or multi-ethnic areas, are faced with the perception that racial profiling is occurring. Police organizations also must sometimes deal with the issue of police corruption which is often abetted by a code of silence that encourages unquestioning loyalty to one's comrades over the cause of justice. In the US, this is accomplished by having an independent or semi-independent organization investigate such as the FBI, internal affairs, or the Justice Department. Finally, in many places, the social status and pay of police is now leading to major problems with recruitment and morale.

Related Topics:
Racial profiling - Code of silence - FBI - Internal affairs - Justice Department

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Critics, especially those mindful of the potential for state tyranny, (see "police state"), argue that police organizations are a means by which the state implements its monopoly on the use of force.

Related Topics:
Police state - State - Monopoly on the use of force

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Police forces also find themselves under criticism for their use of force, particularly deadly force when a police officer of one race kills a suspect of another race. In the United States, such events routinely spark protests and accusations of racism against police.

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Since police are usually the most visible of all law enforcement organisations, they are often accused of not being effective enough in cases where the real blame may lie with the courts or the prosecution authorities.

Related Topics:
Courts - Prosecution

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For more information on extreme forms and various views of policing, see secret police, police state, corporate police state, thought police, and police brutality.

Related Topics:
Secret police - Police state - Corporate police state - Thought police - Police brutality

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