Police Socialization and Police Competence

Defining competent practice is an exercise in 'squaring the circle'. Extrapolating the criteria of 'competent practice' in relation to any occupation runs the risk of placing the social scientist in the role of presgriptive evaluation. The object of this article is not to render another exhortatory 'analysis' of policing but to indicate how 'competence' is oriented to in the working practices of police officers.