Emerald Login
   

Welcome guest

Article Request:
An integrated approach to crowd psychology and public order policing

Article Information:

Title:

An integrated approach to crowd psychology and public order policing

Author(s):

Stephen Reicher, Clifford Stott, Patrick Cronin, Otto Adang

Journal:

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management

Year:

2004

Volume:

27

Issue:

4

Page:

558 - 572


ISSN:

1363-951X


DOI:

10.1108/13639510410566271

Publisher:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Document Access:

Existing customers:

Please login above.

Purchase this document:
Price payable: GBP £13.00
plus handling charge of GBP £1.50 and VAT where applicable.
Purchase

Request this document:
Print or e-mail a document request to your librarian.
Request

Reprints & permissions:
Image: Rightslink Request

Abstract:

This paper uses recent developments in crowd psychology as the basis for developing new guidelines for public order policing. Argues that the classical view of all crowd members as being inherently irrational and suggestible, and therefore potentially violent, is both wrong and potentially dangerous. It can lead to policing strategies that respond to the violence of some in the crowd by clamping down on all members, and therefore lead all members to perceive the police as hostile and illegitimate. In such conditions, even those who were initially opposed to violence may come to side with more conflictual crowd members and hence contribute to an escalation in the level and scope of collective conflict. This paper argues that police officers need to concentrate on understanding the collective identities, priorities and intentions of different groups in the crowd and give the same priority to facilitating the lawful intentions of some groups as to controlling the unlawful intentions of others.

Keywords:

Crowd safety, Policing, Social psychology, Violence


Article Type:

Conceptual Paper


Article URL:

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/13639510410566271

Top