Police and Government and Minority groups - Essay Example

There have been cases when the problems have become magnified due to the wrong measures employed in treating the minorities, especially when it comes to law and order in the depressed or disadvantaged areas in the cities. These are highlighted by instances of abuses and discriminatory actions committed by the police against the members of minority groups in the poorer sections. It must be pointed out though that “these inequalities are based on both race and class, and the injustices suffered by racial and ethnic minorities at the hands of the police are a result of both discrimination and the disproportionate representation of minorities among the poor” (Webster, 2007, p.100). By considering this fact, the government’s handling of the police and their treatment of minority groups on the aspect of peace and order would be more appropriate.

The conflicts that often arise between the law enforcement authorities and the minorities in the depressed areas are actually not solely based on the prevalence of crime there. It may be true that it is in such areas indeed where crimes are committed and where perceived criminals are often hiding out. However, if only the aspect of peace and order is taken into consideration, the larger issues of urban blight, poverty, racial inequalities would be taken for granted. Naturally, the more comprehensive role of the government would also be set aside in favor of relentless and systematic anti-crime campaigns by the police.

From the perspective of the minority groups, this does not solve the problem but would only worsen it. The communities would develop the feeling that they have been singled out by the police for two reasons; they are minorities and they are poor. Therefore, instead of policing their own ranks and keeping their communities safe for themselves, they would unite in their conflict with the police. Weitzer and Tuch point out that “race plays a major role in shaping citizens’ attitudes and experiences with the police in the United States and other multiracial societies” (2006, p.5). According to them also, “blacks are more inclined than whites to believe that the police abuse citizens, treat minorities more harshly than whites, and are not held accountable for misconduct.

” Then again, it must be reiterated that race in this regard is actually secondary to class. It is evident that the police are not prone to abuses even against blacks or any racial minority who are part of the city’s affluent sections. Since the related issues of race and poverty are behind the poor relations between the police and the minority communities in depressed areas, it is only appropriate that the government itself should formulate and implement a more holistic approach. It must put the problem of crime in these areas in the proper social and cultural context.

Crimes are naturally the products of extreme poverty and joblessness. These are two concerns that are obviously beyond the responsibilities of the law enforcement authorities. The local government should deal with this by carrying out projects that would deal with the twin problems of poverty and unemployment. At the first few stages of implementing such projects, the members of the communities may no be very enthusiastic about it, suspecting that there may be