Defund the Police: An International Insurrection

by Chris Cunneen

The police are viewed as guardians of public safety and enforcers of the law. How accurate is this? Given endemic police violence which is often aimed at racialised and minoritised groups and the failure of many attempts at reform, attention has turned to community-generated models of support. These include defunding the police and instead funding alternatives to criminalisation and incarceration. This book is the first comprehensive overview of police divestment, using international examples and case studies to reimagine community safety beyond policing and imprisonment. Showcasing a range of practical examples, this topical book will be relevant for academics, policy makers, activists and all those interested in the Black Lives Matter movement, protest movements and the renewed interest in policing and abolitionism more generally.

274 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Chris Cunneen has provided us w an amazing exploration of the pressing global discourse on policing and community safety, steering discussions away frm conventional perceptions of law enforcement and challenging readers who perhaps aren’t super aware of the problems of policing to reconsider the very essence of public safety.

Cunneen has adeptly deconstructed the prevailing image of the police as guardians of public safety and law enforcement, as the “thin blue line” separating society frm chaos and disorder, and presented us w a comprehensive analysis that does a deep dive into the systemic issues surrounding endemic police violence, particularly its disproportionate impact on racialised and minoritised communities. By scrutinising the failures of past reform attempts, Cunneen shifts attention toward community-generated and mutual aid models of support, urging a departure frm the current system that is clearly failing so many.

One of the book’s main strengths, I found, lies in its diverse and extensive array of global case studies and examples that starkly illustrate the multifaceted implications of police divestment and abolition. By showcasing practical alternatives to criminalisation and incarceration, Cunneen has offered up a roadmap fr redefining community safety beyond the conventional bounds of policing, and this is so relevant in our current political and societal landscape across the globe.

Likewise, w its incredibly meticulous research, ‘Defund the Police’ navigates through the complexities of the defund movement, showing how clear it is that abolition must come about. It is a vital resource that not only presents a panoramic view of the existing challenges but also empowers us readers to engage w, and actively contribute to, the transformative dialogue surrounding policing, abolition, and community safety.

In essence, Cunneen’s work is an indispensable cornerstone fr anyone seeking to comprehend and engage in the discourse surrounding policing in our evolving world. Its comprehensive coverage, supported by tangible examples and a compelling and well-paced narrative, renders it a crucial read fr those navigating the intricate dynamics of contemporary societal movements (such as Black Lives Matter or even going further back to AIM and the Blak Power movement here in Australia) and the reimagining of law enforcement and community wellbeing.

[Danielle ♥ romcommoisseur · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ll preface this review by saying I do not support the use of excessive force by law enforcement and do not support officers who behave unethically and harmful to society. They give the rest of us a bad name and reputation, and bring shame to our community. I read this to better understand DTP motivations and recommendations for a paper I’m writing. There were a few things that were factually incorrect (such as talk about not being able to sue a LEO for excessive force, which in Canada at least, is absolutely permitted and in fact easier to do than charge criminally due to the burden of proof being less onerous), and a lot of missing context. I found myself asking “why did x happen” when reading about statistics and examples - I would’ve loved a bit more background information on some of the real life examples being given, but I suppose they weren’t provided for a reason.

If you are a supporter of DTP you will enjoy this read, but if you are not, you won’t 🤷🏻‍♀️