It was announced on 03rd March 2012 that James Q Wilson, US political scientist, had died, aged 80. Wilson was author, along with George Kelling, of potentially the most important piece of writing about modern policing: Broken Windows.
For those connected to policing, it is worth half an hour of anyone’s life to read this … and then read it all again once you’ve thought it through: it is of direct relevance to those interested in policing and mental health for reasons outlined in the article itself.
First published in March 1982, in The Atlantic Magazine.
Winner of the President’s Medal,
the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Winner of the Mind Digital Media Award
All views expressed are my own – they do not represent the views of any organisation.
(c) Michael Brown, 2012
I try to keep this blog up to date, but inevitably over time, amendments to the law as well as court rulings and other findings from inquests and complaints processes mean it is difficult to ensure all the articles and pages remain current. Please ensure you check all legal issues in particular and take appropriate professional advice where necessary.
Government legislation website – www.legislation.gov.uk
Mental Health Cop 
Very interesting. I have a different view of policing (& the context of policing). As you said it’s very well worth half an hour of anyone’s time.
I get the impression that here in UK we currently have very many ‘tipping point’ communities. I’m less sure that current conventional ‘wisdom’ is up to the job. We seem to be making the same sorts of mistakes in similair (mobile) circumstances that the Americans made in some of the ‘projects’ and with predictably unfortunate results.
This will certainly give me cause for reflection – especially regarding the balance of community needs and individual rights.
Funny – I thought I knew where I stood on civil liberties last night. This morning I’m no longer quite so sure.
Thankyou for posting this
Pleasure – not saying I agree with all of it; and where it became an underpin to an approach it was years later. Criticism was it swept things under the carpet, criminalised and displaced.
If you’re interested in ‘tipping points’ (or social physics) you should read Critical Mass by Philip Ball, which is fascinating in its brief section in crime and communities.