Research on Policing: Insights from the Literature

Abstract

Professionalism and integrity are currently the main topics of discussion in policing in England and Wales, with a drive towards professionalising the police service. This drive is being supported by central government and the newly formed College of Policing, who are pursuing the idea of evidence-based policing practices through research and evaluation. This article considers the developments in the research on policing from its early beginnings in the middle of the 20th century to the present day. It also considers whether the lessons learned and insights from the past will be used to provide a useful reference for the future development of research on policing.