The evolution of “entrepreneurial policing”: a review of the literature
Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy
ISSN: 2045-2101
Article publication date: 4 October 2019
Issue publication date: 18 February 2020
Abstract
Purpose
In the past decade, the concept and theory of “Entrepreneurial Policing” has emerged in academic and policing circles, particularly in a UK context. The purpose of this paper is to collect salient articles from extant but diverse literatures such as policing and criminology to synthesise a literature on it, focussing upon conceptual, theoretical and practical elements.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach is based on synthesising a literature using an in-depth review methodology and on analysing it to develop new insights into theoretical elements.
Findings
The findings are that the literature base is diverse and comes from a variety of policing, criminology, entrepreneurship, management, leadership and policy journals. There is a protean literature but at present little conceptual or theoretical clarity.
Research limitations/implications
There is a need for further empirical research in the form of qualitative face-to-face interviews to be conducted to develop typologies, taxonomies and topographies of entrepreneurial policing (EP). Developing illustrative case studies and teaching cases will educate new generations of police officers into the power and potential of EP as a change agent. This necessitates a change of policing structures, philosophies, processes and practices. From such theoretical groundwork, it is possible at a universal theory of what constitutes EP can be developed and tested. There is a need for commissioned research into the potentially revolutionary phenomenon; a text book and for training courses and seminars on the topic.
Practical implications
There are a number of practical implications for policing and policy practitioners and for its application in the future. From a policing perspective, an increased awareness of EP and criminal entrepreneurship can have positive outcomes in terms of new policing structures, philosophies, methodologies, practices and processes. From a criminal perspective, it heralds a better understanding of entrepreneurial crime, entrepreneurial criminals and organised crime groups. This could result in entrepreneurship educational programmes for police officers, senior officers and other law enforcement personnel and entrepreneurship awareness training for prisoners and ex-offenders and new avenues for utilising entrepreneurship as a diversion out of crime.
Social implications
There are also a number of social implications including the need for policy makers and politicians to be aware of the policing–entrepreneurship nexus and to award financial grants to encourage enterprising behaviour across the criminal justice system; encourage entrepreneurs to give back to their local communities; and increase the number of social enterprises in under-privileged communities.
Originality/value
This review is the first of its kind to deal specifically with EP and its evolution.
Keywords
Citation
Smith, R. (2020), "The evolution of “entrepreneurial policing”: a review of the literature", Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEPP-03-2019-0005
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited