The Changing Face of Policing in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

The dramatic social and political changes taking place in Central and Eastern Europe have inevitably influenced the structure and functions of the police, particularly where the police were associated, in the minds of the people, with maintenance of the former regime. To date, however, little systematic research has been done on the police systems of these countries. This paper consequently provides a broad literature review. Following an account of policing in the past, it focuses on the changes that have taken place in recent years. Two issues are of particular note. First, developments, and public perceptions of those developments, vary widely. Secondly, while some aspects of policing, such as victims' perceptions, have been considered in more detail, others, such as police officers' own views, have rarely been considered. There is thus a real need for further research to document and explain the changes that have occurred.