Political Science

DQ1 What was the role of policing in society throughout history

Throughout the history of civilization, societies have sought protection for their members and possessions. In early civilizations, members of ones family provided this protection (Engel, 2010, para. 1). Modern day policing resulted from the desire and need of the members of the society for protection and order against perpetrators of crimes. Hence, policing deals with the central issues of social control and keeping order in the inherent society. Its main roles and functions include upholding social control, preventing and mitigating crime, and penalizing all those who violated the implemented laws through criminal penalties and rehabilitation methods and efforts. These are made possible by creating an organization that manages and implements the different legislations and is responsible for capturing individuals breaching the law of the land.

Policing has been an important aspect of the society. Its roles and functions are relevant to prevent total chaos in the society. If we are free in everything we want to do, there will be a problem in keeping order in the society. Thus, police forces are essential in ensuring that the implemented policies and legislations are being adhered to by the general public. Those who negate the law are captured by the authorities and receive the sanctions and penalties prescribed by law. By ensuring that the laws are followed, the members of the society are protected against crime perpetrators. Moreover, the presence of police in our society prevents people from doing anything against the law for fear of being penalized for their crime. Policing makes the streets much safer as the law enforcers are on patrol and seek crimes in the society. In short, the main roles of the police even during the early years are to render protection to the people and properties of the society against perpetrators of crime, to deter the crimes of individuals, and to keep the peace and order in the society.

DQ2 Has the role of policing changed in recent years If so, how
The field of policing has changed in so many ways in the span of five years. This is due to the increasing number and prevalence of crime and terrorism in the society, as the consequences of terrorism attacks have tightened the security in vulnerable sites. Specifically, the significant changes in police procedures in the recent years are brought about by the legislation Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act of 2002 (LEPRA). This Act demands an increase in frontline police
Many processes, such as execution of search warrants are now very labor intensive. Brief handling and service mean that police are now spending much more time in paperwork than they did ten yearsago. These changes may help to provide a better service in the long run, but it is clear that they tie officers up away from frontline policing. (Police Association of New South Wales, 2006, p. 1).

This suggests that the changes in policing diverted the focus from frontline policing to paperwork and training. They also give high importance to areas that are vulnerable sites for high crimes and terrorist attacks. However, changes in the organization, which aim to formulate effective policing strategies, are not very effective at all times. The changes have both advantages and disadvantages to the whole policing activities. While organizational change aims to develop effective policing strategies that will help in mitigating crimes in the society, the wide-ranging roles, functions, and responsibilities of the police officers have caused an alarming increase in medical discharge over the recent years along with a high number of stress-related injuries. Thus, the extra demand of police officers renders two main effects it removes the police officers from day-to-day policing in local communities, and it increases the pressure on police who are already overworked and under-resourced.

DQ3 What are some policy issues that affect police
There are a lot of policies that affect the carrying out of duties and responsibilities of our police forces that can limit their jobs and prevent successful operations. National policies can impact the services and responsibilities rendered by police departments, especially in the small local communities. One of the national policies that greatly affect the police is the fiscal policy. Fiscal policy refers to the use of the national government spending and collecting of revenues to influence the economy. However, fiscal policy does not only affect the economy but also the different areas of the society as we all take part in the economy through our employment and taxes. Recently, the United States was hit by the longest recession since Great Depression. The recession largely affected the different areas of the economy many establishments faced bankruptcy and forced to close shop. Many people lost their jobs, decreasing the total amount of revenue collected by the government. Meanwhile, the recession brought about a domino effect on the spending of the national government on public goods and services, including the military, healthcare, education, and the police

Governments have stepped in to the role of providing public goods and services in order to get around the free-riding problem. They are deemed to be able to ascertain the optimal amount of the public good to be supplied and to be able to collect the funds to fund it. (Sooran, n.d., expenditures and taxation section)

Due to the increasing unemployment rate, the funds collected from the citizens who pay their taxes have decreased. Naturally, a budget cut was applied to the different sectors of the society, and the police department was not an exemption. Thus, with a lesser budget, the police departments had to cut down their expenses on tools and gadgets that may be helpful in solving crimes in the society.