ABSTRACT
In a recent public lecture, Sir Ian Blair (commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police) urged British citizens to engage deeply with the question, “What kind of police do we want?” (2005). This question is more than just an existential one for Blair, who is known for his intellectual engagement in conferences and other public forums. He has his finger on the pulse of developments shaping the field of policing and security that are begging for a renewed vision of what the police do, and what they must stand for. Sir Ian speaks about the “expanding mission” of police who, especially in the wake of September 11, 2001, and the London bombings of 2005, are required to effectively manage every issue ranging from “truancy to terror, from graffiti to gunmen” (Blair, 2005). In all of this, partnerships matter.
