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Police brutality

Encyclopedia : P : PO : POL : Police brutality

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Police brutality is a term used to describe the excessive use of physical force, assault, verbal attacks, and threats by police officers. Widespread, systematic police brutality exists in many countries, even those which prosecute it. Brutality is one of several forms of police misconduct which include; false arrest, intimidation, racial profiling, political repression, surveillance abuse, sexual abuse, and police corruption.

Contents

Alleged Corruption

Use of force and authority by police to some groups can be - or be perceived to be - disproportionate. Differences in race, religion, politics, and socioeconomic status between police and the citizenry can contribute to the creation of a relationship in which a significant number of police officers view the population (or a particular subset thereof) as generally deserving punishment while these portions of the population view the police as oppressors.

Police are employed by society to maintain order but by dealing largely with disorderly elements of the society, people working in law enforcement often gradually develop an attitude or sense of authority over society. The growing number of cases of police brutality is usually attributed not to increased awareness within police ranks, but merely to more widespread use of video cameras.

Investigation

In USA cases of police brutality are investigated by internal police commissions, District Attorneys and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Internal police commissions are often criticized for bias to the officers as they frequently declare upon review that the officer(s) acted within the Department's rules, or according to the training. Additionally, the ability of District Attorneys to investigate police brutality is called into question, as DA's depend on help from Police Departments to bring cases to trial. In contrast, the FBI is believed by many to be objective in its work in this area, but it investigates only a fraction of suspect cases of police brutality.

In the UK, an independent organisation known as the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigates reports of police misconduct. They automatically investigate any deaths caused by, or thought to be cause by police action.

Politics

In some cases the police can be seen as siding with or against a government on political issues. For example during the Quebec City Summit of the Americas in 2001, it was believed by the anti-globalists that the police were defending the capitalist objectives of the summit participants but many people viewed those anti-globalists' actions as unreasonable and destructive. Another example is when, in March 2006, masked Kenyan police attacked a media outlet during the midst of a government corruption scandal; see Corruption in Kenya for details.

Human Rights

The Amnesty International 2005 report on human rights alleges widespread police misconduct in many countries. Some notable countries include Canada, the UK, France, the USA, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Community Response

Various community groups have criticised police brutality. These groups often stress the need for oversight by independent citizen review boards and other methods of ensuring accountability for police action. Copwatch is a U.S.-based network of organizations that actively monitors and videotapes the police to prevent police brutality. Umbrella organizations including the [October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation] and justice committees (often named after a deceased individual or those victimized by police violence) usually engage in a solidarity of those affected.

Suspected Cases of Police Brutality

See also

External links

 

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