Why We Trussed the Police: Police Governance and the Problem of Trust

Abstract

The paradox running through this paper concerns the relationship between society and the police whereby, in order to trust that the police will not abuse their power, the public invariably ensure they are trussed. Central to this is the question of how, in thinking about police governance, can trust be acknowledged as a fundamental feature of police relationships, and how can trust be activated to ensure that the police are regarded as legitimate? This highlights a further paradox, whereby the institution charged with trussing the police, the government, is also a major beneficiary of the security which the police bring. At issue is a statement of the underlying principles which make for a more democratically responsive police service.