Coronavirus (COVID-19): international policing responses - part 2 - easing of lockdown

Main points from the paper

• Countries are now at different stages of lockdown easing, but tend to follow a similar pattern
• In many countries policing the initial lockdown was more straightforward than policing the eased lockdown, both because of the cumulative effect of lockdown on communities and often unclear guidance for officers
• Police forces need time to digest and adapt to any significant changes in easing of lockdown, which has not always been afforded
• As the restrictions have been eased countries have found policing by consent to be more important than ever, as police negotiate a fragmented and changing mix of restrictions^[5]
• There is emerging evidence that particular types of crime may have increased, including domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, anti-social behaviour and speeding, presenting different challenges for the police.^[6] There is the potential for more anti-social behaviour as the lockdown eases with young people out of school
• Now that the sense of urgency around COVID-19 has begun to settle, emergency police powers are being scrutinised more closely, with the police's actions being investigated in some cases (i.e. Northern Ireland)
• It is possible that police morale may have been damaged in recent weeks following negative public perceptions of the police, reignited in response to the killing of George Floyd in the USA