Analysis of Police Misconduct: A Criminology Case Study

This case study analyzes an incident of police misconduct involving two Afghan women during a traffic stop in Sydney. The case details racial abuse, threats, and misuse of power by police officers, leading to disciplinary action. The analysis examines the officers' inappropriate behavior, discrimination, and the impact on the community. The assignment applies Bandura's social learning theory to explain the officers' behavior, highlighting how observation and modeling influence actions. The study emphasizes the need for crime prevention strategies, training, and enhanced citizen knowledge of their rights. The conclusion underscores the importance of addressing systemic issues and implementing strategies to reduce crime and protect citizens.

CASE STUDY
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CASE DESCRIPTION....................................................................................................................3
CASE ANALYSIS..........................................................................................................................4
APPLICATION OF THEORY........................................................................................................4
REFLECTION.................................................................................................................................5
SUMMARY.....................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION
Crime topology can be defined as a means of developing general summary statement that
observes various kinds of facts about particular classes of criminals who are homogeneously
treated as a type rather than a studying criminals as single species (Hagan & Daigle, 2018).
There are various kinds of crime topologies such as: Power and Official Discourse, Institutional
Abuse, State Violence and State Crime, War and War Crimes and many more. This assignment
will lay emphasis on Police misconduct topology with the help of a case study analysis.
Harm
Police officer abused two afghan women
CASE DESCRIPTION
Case Heading: Police officers abused Afghan women in Sydney traffic stop, watchdog finds.
This incident occurred on 28TH APRIL 2019 at Sydney traffic stop.
This case is about two police officers who were to be involved within a serious
misconduct who racially abused and belittled two Afghan women at a traffic stop in western
Sydney. This case can into notice when the video of both the police officers was published in
which two women first 24-year-old woman and her stepmother were pulled by two police
officers because they through that they were not wearing a seat belt. Police officer shouted at the
young women that she is one of the most stupid people he has seen driving a motor vehicle and
also threatened her to falsely charge her as an accessory to murder. Laster second police officer
asked her about her religion. They continuously shouted at the women even though she tried to
apologise. He demanded that both the women produce identification. When the young women
explained that her step- mother has arrived on temporary visa then he threatened her to put her
behind the prison. In video second police office was heard using a word Villawood which is used
as a reference to a Sydney immigration detention centre.
Then both the police officers’ orders both the women’s to move out of their car, when the
driver protest, he threatened her to make false charges against her. When she tries to explain to
the police officers that she didn’t know where to stop her car then he again said that she should
hand over her driving license to the police officers if she didn’t know how to drive on Australian
roads. He further added that she should not argue or she be in back of a divvy going back to the
jail and she should not take advantage o their system. This incident di nit stop here, after filling a
complain about both the officers she said that after putting the camera off he said various kinds
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of offensive comments and accused her of having drugs in her car and also said that if she would
have been pulled over by an Afghanistan police then she would have been shot from behind.
This is case both the victims (24 years old women drivers and her step- mother) were
continuously accused of wrong things and were threatened again and again. Not only this, both
the offenders (2 police officers) continuously misused their power and were discriminating them
on the basis of their race and religion and were making continuous comments like referring to
two immigrants, advantage of Our system and did not considered both the women as part of their
system.
Law enforcement agency LESS confirmed that disciplinary action would be taken against
both the officers as it was confirmed that the first officer had used abusive language and
continuously threatened both the women.
CASE ANALYSIS
Attitude of both the police officers were not appropriate. They were discriminating both
the women on the basis of race and religion. Both the police officers were making baseless
threats and threatening both the women because of which damage to the society was caused in a
drastic manner. It was observed the behaviour and attitude of both the police officers conduct
was partially motivated by and exhibited racial prejudice. It also resulted in creating a repel
between Afghan- Australian community. Effect of this event was quite sharp and drastic and
within 24 hours this case and news was on every media channel and on social media as well. The
video conversation between both the offenders and victims were shown on news channels and
also vent viral in social media as well because of which image of police among people was
affected. Effect of this incident were underestimated, people who heard about this incident
formed a very adverse image of police and some of them were even aggressive towards them
whenever they came in contact with any individual.
When LECC started investigation, they first of all started with police video and collected
evidence against both the police officers. Minister for Police and Corrections said that this
incident helped in identifying that there were various kinds of chances that are required to be
brought within the system in order to protect the community and maintain image of police in
front of the people. Government need to work on bringing changes within the system and update
policies so that no other police officers can take advantage of their designation and cannot
discriminate people against rate, gender, cast, religion and many more. Media responded upon
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this case in an aggressive manner and criticised the justice system for this case and also said that
there were various kinds of flaws and gaps in compliance terms, legislation that were required to
be focused on so that such kind of cases can be reduced.
APPLICATION OF THEORY
There are various kinds of criminology theories that can be used to study why individuals
commit crimes any they behave in a certain way in a particular situation (Ross, 2017). These
theories help in understanding crime and criminal justice in a better and appropriate manner.
There are various kinds of theories that can be applied in this case Social learning theory of
bandura can be applied. This theory lay emphasis on importance of observing and modelling the
attitude, behaviour and emotional reaction of others. This theory says that human learning take
place within a social environment. Base of this theory is on four features: learning by observing
others, behaviour is modelled on behaviour of others, observing behaviour and response of
other’s behaviour and justification of those behaviour. This theory says that learning is not
laboratory experiment but people rely on effects of actions by observing other behaviour and
effect of their behaviour. However, there is no proper and clear theoretical explanation of police
misbehaviour but this theory can be lined to behaviour of other both the police officers. This
theory clearly explains how behaviour police is related to people’s perception or complaint of
police misconduct. As per this theory people mostly focus on observing behaviour and attitude of
higher authority people as their behaviour affects them directly or indirectly. If police officers
behave in an inappropriate manner, misbehave with citizen or threaten people with no base. This
attitude of behaviour of police officers is completely wrong as it not only impacts citizens but it
also impacts other police officers as well. Other police officers learn form their behaviour and
might influence their behaviour negatively. It is important to report such kind of incidents
because results or consequences of their behaviour becomes a learning for others and if such
incidents are not reported then it can motivate other police officers in behaving in similar
manner.
REFLECTION
According to me all the criminology theory chosen perfectly fitted with the case as
behaviour of both the police officers as not correct and could have influenced others to do the
same or behave in the similar manner. Law enforcement authorities should have made a separate
law enforcement agency that only investigate such kind of police misconduct or other kinds of
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misconducts that done by people in law enforcement. They should also focus on enhancing
knowledge of citizens so that they can know their rights and correct or improper behaviour of
others such as police officers. According to me there are various kinds of crime prevention
strategies that can be applied in the area such as: provide training to police officers using specific
tools and strategies in order to prevent them from conducting any kind of misconduct and made
them aware of types of misconduct and their consequences. They should also be explained all
kinds of code of conducts that they are required to focus on. This will help in reducing number
of police misconduct.
SUMMARY
From the above case study assignment, it has been summarised that there are various kinds
of crimes that can take place. These crimes not only have drastic effect on victims but such
crimes have a drastic effect on overall society. It is important for law enforcement system to
focus on protecting their citizens and enhancing their protection and security. There are various
kinds of loopholes within current justice system because of which crime rate out increasing. It is
important to implement various kinds of crime prevention strategies in order to reduce such
crime rates and increase security and protection of their citizens.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Chambliss, W.J., Michalowski, R. & Kramer, R. eds., (2013). State crime in the global age.
Willan.
Hagan, F.E. & Daigle, L.E., (2018). Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods, and
criminal behavior. Sage Publications.
Quilter, J., & et. al., (2016). The Definition and Significance of Intoxication in Australian
Criminal Law: A Case Study of Queensland's Safe Night out Legislation. QUT L.
Rev.. 16. p.42.
Ross, J.I., (2017). Protecting democracy: a parsimonious, dynamic and heuristic model of
controlling crimes by the powerful. Criminal Justice Studies. 30(3). pp.289-306.
Rothe, D. & Kauzlarich, D., (2016). Crimes of the powerful: An introduction. Routledge.
Rothe, D.L. & Medley, C., (2019). Beyond State and State‐Corporate Crime Typologies: The
Symbiotic Nature, Harm, and Victimization of Crimes of the Powerful and Their
Continuation. The Handbook of White‐Collar Crime, pp.81-94.
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