Police Accountability

Liability and Control Mechanisms of Police Work in Changing Environments

How can police oversight be adapted to heterogeneous societies and transnational police work? For several decades, ‘accountability’ has been a topical term in research on policing. Its buzzword character obscures the numerous issues it encompasses, such as the liability of both institutional and individual actors, as well as the various mechanisms for controlling those entities. Uncovering these issues is crucial for adapting police oversight to the changing nature of police work, from transnational police cooperation to the policing of increasingly heterogeneous societies. This conference will analyse the different mechanisms of liability, control, and oversight for policing and police coop­er­ation in increasingly heterogeneous societies and transnational environments. It will also examine the challenges arising from police work conducted outside of its traditional territorial jurisdiction. In doing so, it will identify potential pitfalls and evaluate proposals for future development.