Filling the security gap: military or police

Abstract

This paper adds to the growing body of research that explores which force, military or civilian police, would be the more effective in filling the security gap in a post-conflict environment. The current debate centres on specialised units within the military or paramilitary constabulary forces such as the Gendarmerie or the Carabinieri as being more appropriate than civilian police in filling the security gap. This paper explores the idea that civilian police with the correct training and equipment are as competent as any other force in providing immediate post-conflict security and are in fact superior to military forces in establishing a sense of democracy and rule of law in a war torn nation.