Introduction:policing the permacrisis

Against the backdrop of what seems like a perpetual cycle of crisis for policing in modern day England and Wales, this introductory paper synthesises some of the core challenges facing the police. A catalogue of crimes committed by serving officers, missed opportunities for reform, and a scathing review of the internal culture of the police culminating in the recommendation for a ‘complete overhaul’, might initially leave some readers with the view that there is little hope for remediating an outdated and buckling police service. However, this carefully curated collection of articles, authored by academic experts, senior police (both current and former), and commentators not only highlight the issues, but also offer several roadmaps to recovery. The selection of pieces brim with a diverse set of ideas for changing policing for the better and rebuilding trust and confidence in the police.