عنوان

The public order policing of community-based events

TLets429891

The public order policing of community-based events

[Thesis]

Pike, Francis

University of Surrey

2005

Ph.D.

University of Surrey

2005

This thesis offers an exploratory investigation of public order policing in thecontext of events that are staged for members of different types of communities.The research utilises a qualitative case study methodology that combinesobservational fieldwork conducted during the planning and staging of four eventswith the interviewing of 27 participants involved in this process. Relative to otherpublic order contexts (e.g. political protest, industrial disputes, communitydisorder), academic research on the type of • community-based' events that formedthe basis of the field research is lacking. The presented empirical findings revealthat a number of micro, meso and macro factors impacted on the prospects forsafety and order at the observed events. An evaluation of existing public orderrelated analytic accounts highlight both opportunities and limitations in explainingthese factors. In response, an analytic framework is developed which employsPierre Bourdieu's concepts of the habitus and the field. This reveals that theprospects for safety and order are enhanced when the police and organisers areengaged in close working practices which increase trust, cohesive decisionmaking,communication and consistency. The resulting policy implications areintended as 'good practice' guidance for both the police and organisers in relationto planning and staging community-based events, and identifying potential'beyond the event' benefits. Although this thesis is exploratory and care isrequired in making generalisations, future research could determine whether thepresented analytic framework and the policy implications are applicable to otherpublic order contexts.

Pike, Francis

University of Surrey

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y