Abstract
The historical background to and use of the expression ‘noble cause corruption’ to characterise certain types of police behaviour is explored. One account, in which it is understood to provide a mantle of respectability for certain kinds of police corruption is contrasted with another in which it describes a kind of corruption that is not ameliorated by its motivation. This divergence, however, points to some deeper problems and complexities in police decision-making that have not been fully acknowledged or explored in police work. These are most acute when general rules do not adequately accommodate the complexities of real-life situations.
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