den Boer, Monica; Mankkinen, Tarja; Virta, Sirpa --- "Policing terrorism, extremism and radicalization: a legal-comparative perspective" [2018] ELECD 1319; in den Boer, Monica (ed), "Comparative Policing from a Legal Perspective" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 170

Book Title: Comparative Policing from a Legal Perspective

Editor(s): den Boer, Monica

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781785369100

Section: Chapter 8

Section Title: Policing terrorism, extremism and radicalization: a legal-comparative perspective

Author(s): den Boer, Monica; Mankkinen, Tarja; Virta, Sirpa

Number of pages: 19

Abstract/Description:

Within the field of policing studies, research on policing terrorism, extremism and radicalization from a legal-comparative perspective seems to be rare. Within legal discourse, terrorism has been positioned on the interstices between crime and war. In practice, the increased complexity and political nature of terrorism and radicalization pose significant challenges to legislators at all levels, as well as to the police and other law enforcement authorities. Departing from a limited supply of research on norms and legal instruments against terrorism, the authors observe a boost in national and international legal counter-terrorism instruments, which tend to trickle down in ordinary police working practices. As terrorism adopts a chameleon-like character, as a phenomenon that draws high political priority, it poses a significant challenge to domestic police organizations around the world to consolidate special professional expertise amidst the demand to ‘go glocal’ and to enter into multi-agency co-operation. Community policing is regarded as a pivotal tool in the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism.