presents a seminar on
Police Accountability
by
Professor K.C. Wong
Department of Government and Public Administration
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Discussant: Chief Superintendent Steve Chandler
Hong Kong Police
Abstract:
A theory of police capable of explaining and predicting the availability,
utilization and abuse of power by police in a democracy is attempted.
This approach sees state 'police power' as a social resource. The theory
aruges that in a democratic state 'police power' is a critical and limited
social resource held in trust for the promotion of public welfare and serving
individual needs. As such, the availability of 'police power' is determined
by the supply of 'police power' as a political resource at a macro level
where the disposition of 'police power' is determined by the demand for
'police power' as a social resource at the micro level. At a macro
level, the availability of 'police power' to the public is determined structurally
by political processes reflect that conflicting ideological principles
and competing material interests. At a micro level, disposition of 'police
power' is determined situationally and interactively by the police-public
encounter that reflects local custom and community morality at the street
level.
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2000
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Senior Common Room, 14/F, K.K. Leung Building, The University of Hong Kong.