Springer Counter-Terrorism Policing: Community, Cohesion and Security

This book sets out to examine the impact of terrorism on the policing organisation and culturally diverse communities. It is the first book of its kind to contextualise counter-terrorism policing in a conceptual framework and takes account of the unique challenge of the increasing cosmopolitan character of major cities. Based on detailed documentary and ethnographic research, this relevant book holds significant lessons for cosmopolitan cities around the world. From the Back Cover Terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, European cities like London and Madrid, and the subsequent declaration of the ‘war on terror’, are marks of a changed national and global environment in which the threat of terrorist attack and the need for effective counter-terrorism policies have become issues of immediate political and social concern. Police organisations have a key role in the formation and implementation of government counter-terrorism strategies. Accordingly, as part of national counter-terrorism responses, police services are increasingly required to blend law enforcement with responsibilities for national defence. Incorporating law enforcement in national defence changes the nature of police work as traditionally conceptualised. The changed expectations in relation to law enforcement give rise to a number of opportunities and challenges particularly in relation to the community policing ideal that most police services adhere to and the sustainable and positive engagement with culturally diverse communities. This book charts these opportunities and challenges through unprecedented access to the police and diverse communities in Australian regional and metropolitan contexts. It locates these developments in an international comparison with like jurisdictions in the US, UK, and Canada and in light of former conflicts in Northern Ireland and South Africa. It examines the nature and impact of counter-terrorism on policing, diverse communities, legislation and policy and on the media. The book concludes by posing questions for the future of counter-terrorism policing in liberal democracies. About the Author Dr Pickering and A/Prof McCulloch have also published in the British Journal of Criminology, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, Critical Criminology, Policing and Society, Women and Criminal Justice, and Current Issues in Criminal Justice. Both were invited to be plenary speakers at the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Annual Conference in Hobart in February 2006. Dr Wright-Neville is a leading national and international political commentator on terrorism in South East Asia and is called almost daily to offer analysis of developments relating to terrorism in the region for government and media bodies. He has worked as a consultant to the US, UK and Australian Governments and makes regular contributions to security briefings to US government agencies in Washington. Most recently he was part of the Club of Madrid meetings on terrorism. From 1998-2002 he was a Senior South East Asia Analyst, then Senior Terrorism Analyst for the Office of National Assessments, Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet.