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Executive Summaries

2005 Prague Meeting Summary

TWELFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE EXECUTIVE SYMPOSIUM

Prague, The Czech Republic
September 4-9, 2005

Peter C. Kratcoski, Official Recorder, IPES
Lucille D. Kratcoski, Archivist, IPES
 

The Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive Symposium was held at the Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague, The Czech Republic from September 4 through September 9, 2005, sponsored by the Police Academy of the Czech Republic and hosted by Rector Vladimir Plecity, Vice Rector Frantisek Novotny, and Chief Administrator Frantisek Basta. The Local Organizing Committee was supervised by Ivana Stachova and included Hana Brozova and Lukas Kahanek.
The theme of the meeting was “Challenges for Policing in the 21st Century: A Global Assessment.” Otwin Marenin, Washington State University, USA, chaired the Program Committee. Other organizers were Tonita Murray, Senior Police and Gender Advisor, Kabul, Afghanistan, Rick Sarre, University of South Australia, Barbara Young, IPES Administrator, St. George, Vermont, Maximilian Edelbacher, Vienna, Austria, Colonel Jean Etienne Elion, Republic of Congo, and Sebastian Sal, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Meeting Organizer was Dr. Dilip Das, Founder/President of the International Police Executive Symposium.

During the symposium, police practitioners, government officials and representatives of non-government organizations, academics, and researchers from 40 countries, from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North American, and South America made presentations at the sessions and took part in formal and informal discussions. In addition to the nine panels held in the assembly room of the police academy, two poster sessions, devoted to the topics of “dealing with terrorism” and “diverse challenges for policing,” were presented in the foyer of the assembly building. The College of Justice and Safety, Eastern Kentucky University, USA sponsored a panel titled “Police and Their Civil Societies,” and the Geneva Center for the Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Switzerland sponsored a panel titled “Policing Conflict: Torn Societies.” Accommodations for the participants were provided at the Police Academy of the Czech Republic. Rector Vladimir Plecity and IPES President/Director Dilip Das greeted the symposium participants at a welcoming cocktail reception. During the opening ceremony, the Czech Republic Interior Minister, Mgr. Frantisek Bublan addressed those attending. Others participating in the opening ceremony included Rector Vladimir Plecity, IPES President Dilip Das, and Otwin Marenin, Program Chairperson. The participants gathered for meals and informal evening socialization at the Police Academy facilities. The cultural events included attendance at a performance of the Mozart Requiem at Smetana Hall, in the Prague Municipal House, featuring the Prague Radio Choir and Soloists, dinner at the police restaurant ARCO and an evening cruise of the Moldau river on the ship Bohemia, a reception at Piritka Villa, hosted by the First Deputy Minister of the Interior, Miloslav Koudelny, a dinner at Centrotex hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and the Czech Republic Police Academy, a tour of Prague led by students from the Police Academy, a closing ceremony at which certificates of participation were awarded, and a closing cocktail reception at the Police Academy.

 
Making A Global Assessment of Policing
in the 21st Century

Rector Vladimir Plecity of the Czech Police Academy noted that a global assessment of the challenges for policing in the 21st century must involve an understanding of the meaning and implications of globalization. In a message to the participants, he stated:

Globalization is generally comprehended as a process pointing to the rigid worldwide integration and organization of production, business, banking and financial operations, and technology and information connected with international dominion of multinational corporations that influence and determine global political processes among participants of worldwide policy.

He noted that additional benefits derived from globalization include the “normalizing”
of consumer society and the integration of “cultural life of various countries throughout
the world.” However, we warned that:

In addition to the positive aspects of the process of globalization, there arise possible negative aspects and difficulties of these processes. We are warned against them in the writings of many theorists (Plecity, 2005: 3)

Simonovic (2005:1-2) identified some of these negative aspects, stating:

A negative globalization consequence is an increased polarization of states into those which are richer and those which are poorer and poorer. . . . These processes represent a great driving force (a trigger) for expanding all sorts of crimes and above all the transnational organized criminality. . . One of the biggest challenges for the global security system is terrorism. . . . [It] may be seen as a way of opposing globalization processes. The answer to the problem of global terrorism must be integrated on an international level, global and all-inclusive.

In their papers, oral presentations and subsequent discussions, the 100 participants sought to describe and define the challenges for policing in the 21st century and assess the impact of the roles and tasks of police within their own countries and from a global perspective, with strong attention to the changes that have already occurred and those that are expected in the future. The scope and nature of cooperative ventures of police and non-police security were debated. The difficulties involved in recruiting and retaining police officers from minority groups and the role of higher education in minority recruitment were reported. Police accountability and oversight emerged as important issues, and mechanisms for achieving accountability without compromising the rights and effectiveness of police were discussed. Innovative possibilities for close cooperation of police with civic organizations and citizen volunteers were described. The role that police unions currently play in promoting accountability, democractization of the police, police responsibility for promoting social justice in various settings and the importance of unions to the internal functioning and external responsiveness of the police in the future were thoughtfully assessed. Policing of societies by international peacekeepers and the attendant problems that arise were frankly presented, and possibilities for more effective policing in these situations were suggested. Current responses to terrorism and steps that have been taken by various governments to combat terrorism were highlighted, and the risks and challenges of policing in the 21st century were noted, with emphasis on the importance of a global mindset, even when police are performing at the local level.

Challenges Faced by Police in the 21st Century

The challenges faced by police in the 21st century were described as two-fold. They involved police responses to changes in the social and cultural climates of their own countries, invasive criminal activity from outside sources and in international policing situations, and also internal changes that may be required in terms of police organization, priorities, relationships with the community, interfacing on the local, regional, national, and international levels, union activity, and accountability and oversight procedures.

Problems Faced By Police in a Changing World

The problems identified by police were closely related to social factors. In developing countries, the rapid changes that have occurred have in many cases resulted in political turmoil and worsened economic conditions. Dellasoppa (2005:1) noted:

The political democratization process did not include social democracy or welfare improvement for most of the Brazilian population. An inverse relationship is observed between the process of democratization experienced in Brazil and the increase in violence and crime levels in Brazilian society, as measured by crime and mortality statistics.

At the same time, police in developing countries must adapt their responses to the pressures for more individual freedom and human rights. As Messing (2005:3) commented on the situation in Cameroon:

The fundamental question that arises is how to reconcile the security imperative, which presupposes the eradication of insecurity and the protection of human rights needed for building any State that abides by the rule of law.

Various presenters explored the possibilities for meeting the challenges facing developing societies to provide both internal and external security while taking into account the human rights factor.

When international police forces are called upon to police war-torn societies, problems occur that are related to the preparation and supervision of the forces, the conflicts that erupt when the officers must deal with cultural traditions that are at odds with the reforms they are trying to introduce, lack of funds and supplies, and inadequate oversight of the peace-keepers, who may be insensitive to the customs and needs of the native population or who may become involved in inappropriate sexual behavior, the black market, or other forms of exploitation (Mobekk and Caparini, 2005; Murray, 2005; Craig, 2005; Basnet, 2005)

Police in countries with well established democratic traditions and stability must accommodate their procedures to social and cultural changes within their own countries. Yokoyama (2005) described police programs developed in cooperation with schools and the community to address the growing problems of juvenile delinquency and violence in the schools in Japan. Countries with established democracies are also faced with an influx of large numbers of persons who are fleeing from political instability and poverty. This migration often brings with it problems of increased organized crime, particularly trafficking in human beings, drug crimes, and violent crime, ethnic tensions between the migrating groups, dislike of the foreigners because they compete for jobs, and fear of terrorism.

The event of 9/11/2001 were seen by the participants who addressed the terrorism issue as the focal point of the early 21st century. Security concerns, fueled by fear of terrorism, have now eclipsed other priorities. King and Sharp (2005:7-8)) noted that, on international, national, and local levels, the focus of cooperative intelligence ventures has shifted from serious crime to terrorism. On the local level, global security concerns have impacted the roles and tasks of the police (DePard, 2005; Hurschemaekers, 2005) with a subsequent reduction in funding and less emphasis on community policing (Roberson, 2005), and Pate (2005) described the monumental problems faced by police involved in enhancing port security in the United States.

Internal Factors – Changes in Police Administration, Priorities, Relations with the Community, Oversight and Accountability, The Role of Police Unions

In certain countries, political considerations, the emphasis on enhanced security, and economic problems have been the motivations for altering the organizational structure of police organizations. For example, in 2000 the newly elected conservative government in Austria, in an effort to reduce the budget deficit, sought to cut costs and personnel. For the police, this involved increased centralization, including the closing of many gendarmerie stations in the rural areas and reductions of police personnel in the cities. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the United States, safety and security became the main goal, and the gendarmerie and police were merged into one militarized system. Edelbacher (2005:32-33) noted the adverse consequences of these changes:

The consequences are that the community and the citizens of Vienna and Austria are neglected by the services of the law enforcement agencies. . . . The objective security situation is worsening, the subjective security situation of citizens shows a tendency of increasing insecurity feelings. Crime is on increase, less crime is solved, the number of officers is reduced, therefore streets and homes become insecure. . . . a two class society will be created. . . . If you can afford it, you will have safety and security, if you cannot afford private security you won’t be secured enough by public security.

A trend toward a highly expanded reliance on private security is evident throughout the world. This raises questions of police alliances or competition with private security, the need for oversight of its activities, and the possibilities that privileged persons can avail themselves of expertise and protection not affordable to those who live in economically deprived and dangerous areas (Sarre and Van Steden, 2005).

The discussions of police priorities revealed a strong emphasis on security at the expense of community policing and services, but certain countries are maintaining their emphasis on community-centered policing. In Japan, the police box (koban in urban areas, residential police box, chuzaiso, in rural or semi-rural areas) has been found to be highly effective. A visible police presence is maintained, police can quickly respond to emergencies, and the police are viewed as part of the local community (Higuchi (2005). In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, The Proper Police Station Program has been introduced to “reestablish the image of the police and diminish the distrust and fear that kept the population from entering the police stations” (Husain, 2005:4). This is to be accomplished by changes in “the physical structure of the station, the assignment of work amongst employees, the day-to-day realities of police work, the officers’ manner of behavior and working, and the supervision and control of individual officers (Husain, 2005:6).” In the United States, direct involvement of well-trained citizen volunteers in policing efforts has also produced positive results (Nichols, 2005; Brinker, 2005).

Another important 21st century issue is police oversight and accountability. In many countries, the strong emphasis on security has led to legislation giving police additional powers of surveillance and leeway to apprehend suspected terrorists and hold them for extended periods of time. There is public concern that this will lead to an erosion of individual rights and freedoms through police abuse of these powers (Bloss, 2005). Civilian review boards have been used as oversight mechanisms, but they have been criticized for focusing on individual misconduct incidents rather than the larger picture. Jurado (2005:1) notes that:

Because they are volunteers with little time and resource dedication, review boards are unable to effectively identify and recommend systematic reforms of misconduct investigations, police discipline, or new policies, practices and training. . . They are ill-positioned to follow-up to ensure that reforms are implemented.

Organizations with professional staffs and access to internal information from police organizations, such as Transparency International, are viewed as more effective in identifying abuses and bringing about reforms.

Accountability and oversight within the police organization itself are vital, but they have some negative aspects. As Eijkman (2005:24) noted:

Police officers often feel misunderstood and victimized by the police organization as well as the complainants. Being held accountable is experienced as a nuisance that interferes with regular police work. It questions a police officer’s professionalism and authority. . . . resolutions have consequences for police officers’ livelihood, career, and status amongst colleagues. Police officers tend to take the internal organizational accountability mechanisms the most serious, because it relates to their everyday work.

Police unions are concerned with issues of oversight, accountability, and police reform as they relate to officers’ rights, but they also must react to many other issues relevant to 21st century policing, including changes in police organization structuring and governance related to security concerns, the diversification of groups involved in crime control and other policing activities, including citizens groups and private police, human rights issues, and employment practices related to gender and minority group pressures for increased representation on the forces. The emphasis that a union places on a particular issue is related to the current political climate in that country, priorities embraced by union leaders, and the expressed will of the union members (Fleming and Marks, 2005; Barot, 2005).

Conclusions

The symposium participants identified many challenges for policing in the 21st century, and they were optimistic that highly professional police administrators and officers would be able to meet these challenges. Sal (2005:14) described the ideals that police of the 21st century must embrace and the process needed to develop such police departments:

You need a vocation for service and people who have this vocation are usually the best people. It is our duty to promote and to encourage this kind of people. . . . If we want a safe police department we have to have a serious admission process. Then, we have to prepare these men and women for proficiency, giving them a high training and education. If we are able to do it, the police departments will start to change from the inside. . . . Finally, we have to control them. We can do it using the Judiciary Power, the Mass Media, and the people.

The Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive Symposium, on the theme of “Local Linkages to Global Security and Crime: Thinking Locally and Acting Globally,” will be held May 26-30, 2006 in Sarimsakli (Balikesir, Ayvalik), hosted by the Turkish National Police. For additional information on the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the IPES or on other upcoming IPES meetings, contact IPES President Dr. Dilip K. Das at dilipkd@aol.com.

 
References

Barot, Manoj (2005), “The Experience of Serving Black Police Officers in Britain,”
paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police
Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic, September 4-9.

Bloss, William P. (2005), “U.S. Police Investigative Powers in a New Privacy
Paradigm,” paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the
International Police Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic,
September 4-9).

Brinker, Tom (2005), “The Citizen Police Academy: Experiences and Prospects,”
(USA) paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International
Police Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic, September 4-9.

Dellasoppa, Emilio E. (2005), “Policing in Brazil at the Beginning of the 21st Century:
Severe Challenges in Developing Countries,” paper presented at the Twelfth
Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive Symposium, Prague,
The Czech Republic, September 4-9.

DePard, Doug (2005), “Impacts of Global Security Contexts on Local Police
Roles and Tasks: The Case of Canada/Vancouver,” paper presented
at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive
Symposium, Prage, the Czech Republic, September 4-9).

Eijkman, Quirine (2005), “To Be Held Accountable: Police Accountability in
Costa Rica,” paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the
International Police Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech
Republic, September 4-9.

Fleming, Jenny and Monique Marks (2005), “Thinking Critically About Police Unions
in Australia: Internal Democracy and External Responsiveness,” paper
presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police
Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic, September 4-9.

Higuchi, Haruhiko (2005), “Challenges of Koban (Police Box) System in the 21st
Century,” (Japan) paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the
International Police Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic,
September 4-9.

Hurschemaekers, Rob (2005), “The Impacts of Global Security Contexts on Domestic
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Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive Symposium,
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Husain, Saima (2005), “One Station at a Time: Professionalizing the Civil Police in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the
International Police Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic,
September 4-9.

Jurado, Ray (2005), “A New Oversight Strategy in the United States: Full-Access
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paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police
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King, Mike and Doug Sharp (2005), “Global Security & Policing Change: The Impact
of ‘securitisation’ on UK Policing at the National and Local Level,” paper
presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive
Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic, September 4-9.

Messing, Jean Louis (2005), “The Challenges of Policing in the 21st Century:
A Global Assessment,” (Cameroon), paper presented at the Twelfth
Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive Symposium, Prague,
The Czech Republic, September 4-9.

Mobekk, Eirin and Marina Caparini (2005), “International Policing: What Role
for Switzerland?” paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the
International Police Executive Symposium, Prague. The Czech Republic,
September 4-9.

Murray, Tonita (2005), “The Gender Element in Police Reform: the Afghan
Experience,” paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the
International Police Executive Symposium, Prague, The Czech Republic,
September 4-9.

Nichols, David (2005), “The Utility of Citizen Volunteers for Police Work,” (USA)
paper presented at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police
Executive Symposium, Prague, the Czech Republic, September 4-9.

Pate, Anthony (2005), “Enhancing Port Security in the USA,” paper presented at the
Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive Symposium,
Prague, The Czech Republic, September 4-9.

Plecity, Vladimir (2005), “Introductory Note of the Chancellor of the Police Academy
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Roberson, Cliff (2005), “How the Increasing Threat of Terrorism Will Change
Community Policing’s Policies and Procedures,” poster session presented
at the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the International Police Executive
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Sal, Sebastian (2005), “Changes in the Argentine Police During the Democratic
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Sarre, Rick and Ronald van Steden (2005), “Challenges for Policing in the 21st Century:
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Simonovic, Branislav (2005), “Challenges of Policing in the 21st Century: An
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Yokoyama, Minoru (2005),”Rethinking Police Relations with Civic Society
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