• The development of community policing in the Anglo-American context, in the Pacific Rim and in the European Union is reviewed by Brogden and Nijhar (2005), who identify ten myths associated with much debate on this approach to police work. Brogden and Nijhar (2005) argue that community policing models have tended to fail when transported to developing countries that do not share the social and political context of North America in which they were developed.

• A special edition of Criminology and Criminal Justice (2007, volume 7, number 4) explores the development of Neighbourhood Policing in Britain, and the implications of social diversity and central government control for efforts to reinvigorate community policing. Articles in the journal explore community policing as it applies to minority ethnic communities in rural areas; to new travellers; to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities; and to virtual communities.

• Roberg et al.’s (2005) Police and Society provides a good overview of the founda­tions and administration of the police in the USA, the behaviour of officers, and a range of controversies and challenges faced in the context of policing a diverse and fragmented society. The book contains a chapter that reviews the transition towards community policing and the associated philosophy, strategy and tactics.

• One of the most extensive, sustained and researched experiments in community policing has been conducted in Chicago. Data on the project, known as the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS), including background papers and the results of research, can be found at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University: www.northwestern.edu/ipr/publications/policing.html.

• The philosophy and practice of community policing have often developed in the USA, and information on the operation and principles of many examples can be found at http://cops.usdoj.gov/html/cp_topics/Community-Policing-Topics.asp.

 A 2007 special edition of Criminology and Criminal Justice explored a range of challenges relating to the development of community policing. All the articles in this edition also relate to themes explored in this chapter. Among the topics explored in the pieces below are the difficulties of policing diverse and complex communities, the position of minorities in rural areas, virtual online communities, and the policing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities:

1. Hughes, G. and Rowe, M. (2007) ‘Neighbourhood Policing and Community Safety: Researching the Instabilities of the Local Governance of Crime, Disorder and Security in Contemporary UK’, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7: 317–46.

2. Garland, J. and Chakraborti, N. (2007) ‘“Protean Times?”: Exploring the Relationships between Policing, Community and “Race” in Rural England’, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7: 347–65.

3. Wall, D.S. and Williams, M. (2007) ‘Policing Diversity in the Digital Age: Maintaining Order in Virtual Communities’, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7: 391–415.

4. Moran, L. (2007) ‘“Invisible Minorities”: Challenging Community and Neighbourhood Models of Policing’, Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7: 417–41.