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Content: But the conditions under which police operate, the means they use and the
ends they seek vary greatly between democratic and non-democratic societies. Police are a central element
of a democratic society. Indeed one element in defining such a society
is a police force that 1) is subject to the rule of law, rather than the
wishes of a powerful leader or party 2) can intervene n the life of citizens
only under limited and carefully controlled circumstances and 3) is publicly
accountable. It is a myth that all that
stands between total chaos and social order is the police. Social order
has multiple sources. These include socialization to norms, a desire to
have others think well of us, reciprocity, self-defense and the design
of the physical environment. Yet police are an important factor. Their
importance increases with the heterogeneity and size of a society. A defining characteristics
of police is their mandate to legally use force and to deprive citizens
of their liberty. This power is bound to generate opposition from those
who are subject to it.