Risk assessments and public order disturbances: New European guidelines for the use of force?

Over the last twenty years, the prison system, border controls, crime prevention programmes, anti-terror measures and private security companies have expanded within Europe. This article discusses some of the implications. It will be argued that we are witnessing a paradigmatic shift in the manner i...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hörnqvist, Magnus (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
Published: 2004
In: Journal of Scandinavian studies in criminology and crime prevention
Year: 2004, Volume: 5, Issue: 1, Pages: 4-26
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
Bürgerrechte
Grenzkontrollen
Kriminalprävention
Strafvollzugssystem
Private Sicherheit
Risikoeinschätzung
Ordnungspolitik
Terrorismusbekämpfung
Gewaltanwendung
Richtlinien
Europäische Union
Description
Summary:Over the last twenty years, the prison system, border controls, crime prevention programmes, anti-terror measures and private security companies have expanded within Europe. This article discusses some of the implications. It will be argued that we are witnessing a paradigmatic shift in the manner in which state-sanctioned force is employed. The distinction between what is criminal, to be dealt with by the justice system, and what creates a 'perception of security'-formerly to be dealt with by social policy-is being eroded at both macro- ('war on terror') and micro- ('public order') levels. The rule of law is giving way to a security mentality, where force is employed on the basis of risk assessments. Social problems are re-interpreted as security threats, and met with measures recreating the original threats. This gives the policy field a distinctive rationality of its own
ISSN:1404-3858