Example of Democratic Policing in the UK

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Democratic policing in the UK
Police Professionalism
Before carrying out any arrest and stop and search powers, police in the UK are required by law to have “reasonable grounds” or “reasonable suspicion” that a crime has been or will be committed (Haberfield & Cerrah, 2007, pp.285). This enables the police force to avoid cases of wrongful arrests which would paint the force in a bad light among the public. This shows professionalism within the UK police force. The law ensures public police operations are conducted with discipline.
The UK police force has also trained some of its officers to use guns. Not all police officers are qualified to use guns. Police officers in the UK aim to present themselves as just civilians in uniforms. Therefore, most of them do not carry guns. Those who carry guns are well trained and qualified to do so. These armed officers act as response teams who are called upon only when necessary (Haberfield & Cerrah, 2007, pp.284). Such formal training ensures the police force is always professional.
Police Accountability
UK police who are found to have misused their powers are charged in court. This ensures accountability within the police force. For example, Detective Sergeant Harry Challenor’s squad of detectives were arraigned in courts on charges of corruption which included prisoner brutalization in order to get confessions (Haberfield & Cerrah, 2007, pp.280). Also, in the 1960s and 1970s, it was found that officers from the Metropolitan Police destroyed and fabricated evidence.

Charging police officers ensure they remain accountable to the rule law.
The basic unit of the police force in the UK is referred to as the Basic Command Unit (BCU). In the UK, more power and resources are being devolved to the local BCU. Also, performance analysis is based on BCUs rather than police forces (Haberfield & Cerrah, 2007, pp.291). This is aimed at ensuring transparency in the whole police force. The forces are also obligated by law to form a partnership with other agencies to ensure transparency and better social outcome.
Work cited
Haberfield, M., & Cerrah, I. (2007). Comparative Policing: The Struggles for Democratization. SAGE Publications Inc.