ABSTRACT
We started this book by arguing that public policing is facing a cycle of continuous crisis, arising from either corruption or incompetence. Most recently there have been the Lawrence investigation and corruption scandals in a number of British forces, and we have also cited a number of international examples, including the Rampart case in the USA (Chapter 9) and the Van Traa inquiry in the Netherlands (Chapter 7). These have in the past led to a cycle of crisis/scandal, proposed changes (usually rule tightening), a shift back to crime fighting and thence back into crisis.
