Impact of antiterrorist measures on democratic law enforcement

It is, no doubt, a great credit to the Italian police that they were successful in their battle against terrorism. However, this battle should also teach them a few valuable lessons. The police in Italy must remember that in the beginning they had not enough intelligence on the nature of terrorism that devastated the country for many years. Such a glaring lack of intelligence seems to suggest an absence of rapport with society at large. After the terrorists were defeated with increased legal powers and other means of physical might, the police lost the support of the press, which had stood by them during the bad days. Moreover, the discouraging response to a police recruitment drive also indicates that the police were losing popularity. Sensitivity to public feelings based on the strict observance of democratic norms of law enforcement must always remain the cornerstone of any police strategy

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