Policing in a pandemic: Responding to Covid-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world that we used to live in. The law enforcement agencies were faced with the unforeseen and unprecedented challenges that created huge risk for public health and law and order in general. Police, as first responders, were required to engage with the public. They had to explain and encourage the public to follow rules and regulations. The pandemic extended the boundaries of policing well beyond that which had previously been understood by both police and the public as legitimate. Also, working for long and uncertain hours amid the pandemic affected the physical and mental health of police personnel.