As an institution, our police force is under increasing strain and frequently faces criticism. Yes it is hard to imagine what could conceivably replace it?

Police and policing are always contested. For some, police deserve unquestioning support as a bulwark against crime; for others, abolition as an unreformable agent of harm. Yet, the complex reality of police work suggests a more nuanced vision is required.

Here, criminologist Ben Bradford examines the competing and sometimes conflicting purposes of modern-day policing and asks what role the police should play in democratic societies. From crime-fighting and crime prevention to public order and repressive forms of social control, he explores both the promise and the dangers of contemporary policing, arguing that many expectations currently placed on police are unrealistic or undesirable – and some may be better met by other institutions.