Page 48 - 1Proactive Policing

Pro-Active Policing

He concluded therefore that the state must be characterized by the means which it, and only it,

has at its disposal: "a state is a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the
legitimate use of physical force within a given territory".

There are several caveats which apply to this basic principle:

 Weber intended his statement as an observation, stating that it has not always been the case
that the connection between the state and the use of violence has been so close. He uses
the example of the Catholic Church, which historically placed limits on the absolute authority

of the state which effectively were removed by later Protestant thought.

The actual application of force is delegated or permitted by the state. Weber's theory is not
taken to mean that only the government uses force, but that the individuals and
organizations which can legitimately use force or adjudicate on its legitimacy are precisely

those authorized to do so by the state. So, for example, the law might permit individuals to
use violence in defense of self or property - in this case the right to use force has been

granted by the state, and only by the state. The state might also delegate certain tasks
requiring the use of force to other bodies, such as law enforcement to the police.

Advantages and Disadvantages of 'Reactive' and 'Proactive' Policing.

Both Reactive and Proactive police investigations are used in Britain today in order to apprehend
and punish criminals for breaking the law, from crimes like burglary and assault, to much more

serious crimes such as drug dealing, fraud and murder. The crime control model states how
important law enforcement is, as, unless criminal conduct is kept under tight control, the view is

that there will be a breakdown in public order and a limit to human freedom. This essay aims to
introduce and describe the two methods of policing and also to discuss their advantages and
disadvantages. In conclusion, both reactive and proactive methods of policing are invaluable and

necessary if practiced alongside one another.

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