Undercover policing-a legal-comparative perspective

Book chapter


Harfield, Clive. (2018). Undercover policing-a legal-comparative perspective. In In den Boer, Monica (Ed.). Comparative policing from a legal perspective pp. 153-168 Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785369117.00015
AuthorsHarfield, Clive
Editorsden Boer, Monica
Abstract

Undercover policing has become more mainstream throughout the years, and builds on the philosophy of pre-emption. It may be regarded as a field of policing that covers a variety of tactics used for the prevention of crime and disorder. However, the purpose of undercover policing may vary between jurisdictions: a commonplace tactic of choice in one jurisdiction may be highly exceptional or even unlawful in another. Discretion, disguise and deceit are the three strategic options for undercover policing. Focusing on deceit, it is observed that individuals who are the subject of undercover policing cannot exercise their informed autonomy. Several jurisdictions have adopted legal regulation of undercover policing, but a public policy debate remains mostly absent. Taking into account a wide variety of cases and examples from all many different countries, the author discusses the regulation of undercover policing from the perspective of three models, namely the negative liberty model, the positive authority model, and the exemption from liability model. Undercover policing is embedded in a strongly evolving landscape, marked by a dynamic interaction between national and international legal norms.

Page range153-168
Year2018
Book titleComparative policing from a legal perspective
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing Limited
Place of publicationCheltenham, United Kingdom
Northampton, Massachusetts
SeriesResarch handbooks in comparative law series
ISBN9781785369100
9781785369117
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785369117.00015
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online28 Dec 2018
Print2018
Publication process dates
Deposited13 Nov 2023
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