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Policing the pandemic: Why the ‘covidiots’ narrative and calls to ‘get tough’ are dangerous ground for policing

SUBSCRIBE 14th January 2021Former Chief Superintendent Owen West  1 Comment
Many sections of the media have been quick to blame ‘covidiots’ for the spread of COVID-19, and equally quick to back a police crackdown; but former chief superintendent Owen West, a Research Fellow at Keele University, says the evidence suggests the media narrative is false, and that the ‘get tough’ approach is part of a wider politicisation of policing that could do long-term damage to the police-public relationship.

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