Victim-Centred Policing: The Shepherd's Solution to Policing in the 21st Century

Abstract

The article discusses the emergence of victim-centred policing as a philosophical approach to reducing the effects of criminal victimisation. It discusses the convergence of criminological thought with policing in identifying the importance of the victim in the response to crime. It identifies the need to restructure policing practices to position the victim as a strategic focus for policing in the twenty-first century and to take the institutional lead in the criminal justice system. The symbolic, cultural and philosophical transformation necessary to operationalise the philosophy of victim-centred policing is examined. The importance of social research and the need for professional expertise within the policing unit to facilitate victim-centred police operations is also discussed. The article explores the role of the victim in traditional law enforcement and the move towards models of community policing that emphasise victim involvement in the criminal justice system. A discussion of the victimisation process and the inclusion of principles of restorative justice as a critical factor in the recovery of the victim are provided.

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