Introduction
Policing is an important function undertaken by governments of all sovereign governments. The police are the state organ that ensures maintenance of law and order and acts as the first link in the criminal justice systems. Police systems around the world have developed on their unique socio cultural setting and for this reason exhibit huge difference between them. Policing occurs in the various categories according to its composition or by structure. Such as,
- Classification based on legal backing,
- Policing by consent
- Policing by law
- Classification based on command structure
- Singular command structure
- Multiple command structure
Under singular command structure, the entire country is under a single force under a single commander. If the country falls under multiple police forces, then the system is a multiple model. If the forces within the multiple model have clearly defined areas of jurisdiction, then the model is multiple coordinated while in the contrary situation where police forces have overlapping jurisdictions, it is a multiple uncoordinated.
Additionally, if a police force in a country is highly organized and with a centralized command structure, it is called a coordinated centralized police force while in the reverse case where the force does not have an apparent command structure, it is called a decentralized command structure.
Comparative study of police systems between the United states and the United Arab Emirates
Police systems in the United Arab Emirates
Policing in U.A.E is a model of centralized coordinated police force. The authority emanates from the king who as well appoints both the minister of interior and director of public safety. The police force is referred to as the Public Security Police is taxed with policing all over the country. The police force draws its authority from the Executive orders and the shariah law. Further subdivision of the police occurs under regular police and special investigative police. The regular police work under the ministry of interior run by the director of public safety. The special investigative police falls under the (G I P) or the general directorate of investigation. The main role of this wing is to conduct investigations and manage domestic security as well as counter intelligence. Apart from these mainstream factions of the police force, there exists a religious police wing known as mutawwiun and falls directly under the king. The ultimate authority, command chain in the country ultimately is answerable to the king. There exists however, a pockets of tribal bands of policing enacted by the elders. The elders, being a law unto themselves, abhor interference from other kinds of authority. The elders themselves, with the police force offering tactical support, enforce the law in these areas.
Police systems in the United States
The United States in contrast has no national police force with its policing responsibilities falling under state and local control. The total police force of the states is around half a million officers under forty thousand separate police forces. A majority of o the police force is made up of one to two –man sheriffs’ offices in small towns all over the country. Enforcement of the law in the United States is decentralized with the federal officers prosecuting violators of federal regulations. There are a myriad of federal police agencies with each handling its unique jurisdiction. Primary responsibility of policing in the United States however, is at the local level.
Comparison between police systems in the United States and the United Arab Emirates
The federal police force agencies such as F.B.I are similar to the special investigative police of the United Arab Emirates. These agencies do not handle the actual task of enforcing law and order but rather investigating crime and providing intelligence on possibility of occurrence of crime. The sheriff system of the United States on the other hand is similar to the system of policing employed by the elders in the United Arab Emirates. The sheriff system emerged as a voluntary program of policing in the rural United States. They also operate in small towns where everyone is familiar to each other and the possibility of serious crime being minimal. The elders also handle crime in their localities without fee and operate within their locales.
References
Wilson, J. M. (2006). Community policing in America. New York: Routledge.
Steverson, L. A. (2008). Policing in America: A reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO
Al, S. K. R., & Kibble, N. (January 01, 2000). Policing and police accountability in the UAE: The case for reform. Arab Law Quarterly, 15, 3, 272-303.
Kádár, A. (2001). Police in transition: Essays on the police forces in transition countries. New York: Central European University Press.
