International Law Enforcement Observer XI.

Abstract

Aim: The presentation of foreign literature on law enforcement is a basic task of Rendészeti Figyelő. This time, however, we would like to provide students of Law Enforcement Doctoral School with direct methodological assistance in order to help them to draw from foreign language sources as effectively as possible when developing their research topics and writing their dissertations. With this commitment, the reviews of Árpád Budavári and Zsolt Lippai are given space. Both have chosen valuable foreign sources for their doctoral thesis topics.
Methodology: Among the methodological innovations in the world scientific literature, this Figyelő offers fresh ideas in two areas. Gergely Hlavacska draws attention to the following: "Drug policy (drug control) ... is shifting away from traditional criminal justice solutions towards harm reduction. This is reflected in the increasing number of diversionary schemes coordinated by the police as an alternative to criminalisation." Drug policy is seen as part of a law enforcement strategy, in which the decisive factor is the choice of the political forces that have gained power in government between pro-strength and pro-aid regimes. Hlavacska's review outlines a pattern in which a smart response to crime listens to the opinions of police professionals. The liquidation of illegal drug market bases is one of the most difficult areas, where really big successes are rare. The criminologists of the fight against drugs know that failures against distribution networks are not mitigated by the exposure of consumers. Police culture has plenty of experience of how justice often penalises those who are victims rather than perpetrators of drug crime. The second methodological lesson emerges in the work of Ákos Erdélyi, who points out that the militarisation of policing is not exclusively a subject of research in police or defence studies. "The process of militarisation has, by its very nature, in the vast majority of cases been examined from some police science or defence policy perspective; the authors of this study, however, are representatives of psychology..." The researchers arrived at these findings through extensive use of well-designed questionnaires.
Findings: In drug strategies, the curative (medicalising) tendencies can be strengthened where police experience is matched by sufficient professional authority, which can only be put to good use by the democratic functioning of political power. The military or civilian nature of law enforcement personnel can provoke controversial reactions from the public: "The results show that the public tends to have negative attitudes towards officers wearing certain militarised attire, including in terms of approachability, confidence and morality. At the same time, public perception is that these officers are stronger, more confident and more prepared for threatening behaviour/dangerous situations." Tamás Skorka gives an example of war communication, reporting on a study that presents the inhuman world of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Value: The studies show that law enforcement authorities involved in maintaining public order and safeguarding public security require an internal and multidisciplinary assessment of their activities, which can significantly improve the professional quality of law enforcement services and enhance their social acceptance.