Research issues
This page introduces the principal research issues that the Europ-Cop project is concerned with.
Pedestrian police patrols
When police forces were first established in European countries, most routine patrols had to be conducted on foot because there was no realistic alternative. Some police forces, e.g. in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, retain a commitment to pedestrian policing, particularly in city centres and some urban neighbourhoods. However, for many years police patrols have become mostly vehicle-based, and some European Union countries no longer carry out any routine pedestrian policing. Nevertheless, there will always be some situations where police officers need to operate on foot, e.g. at sports events, within large crowds, on public transport, in traffic-free areas, and inside large buildings such as shopping malls and airport terminals.
The communications equipment available to police officers is no longer restricted to a whistle and a notebook. Electronics has made a vast range of devices possible, from radios to laptop computers and hand-held printers. If a vehicle is available, it can be used to carry and power such equipment. However, for a police officer on foot, it is essential that equipment is restricted to a few items chosen with special care, so that they enhance the officer's capabilities and do not become an obstacle. This is a significant design challenge for technology providers, and a procurement challenge for police authorities.
The aim of the Europ-Cop project is to address these issues by:
- devising a framework for understanding the particular needs of pedestrian policing, and
- identifying promising technologies, current or emerging, to meet those needs.
Mission and needs of pedestrian policing
Social, legal and ethical issues
Our work in this area is summarised in the following documents:
- A. A. Adams, Initial assessment of social, legal and ethical issues regarding increased ICT use by pedestrian police officers, 8pp. [PDF document 82KB]
