Policing and social conflict in Northern Ireland

Abstract

In this introduction, we provide a historical account of the development of policing in Northern Ireland. In Section One, we discuss the historical imperatives that shaped the nature of policing in pre‐independence Ireland. In Section Two, we consider the links between police and state in Northern Ireland, and explore the dynamics of policing during the conflict. As police reform emerged as a central plank of the peace process, we examine the potential of the Patten Report to resolve the difficulties surrounding policing and police legitimacy. We conclude by highlighting the positive lessons to emerge from the ongoing debate over police reform in Northern Ireland.