Policing Urban Violence: Lessons from South Asia

As densely populated urban centres emerge as economic powerhouses where global GDP is concentrated, they are also increasingly vulnerable to shocks of violence and insecurity. Well-managed urban economies have the potential to provide a route out of poverty, however, poor urban communities are disproportionately affected by violence, making the provision of effective and sustainable security in urban centres a key issue in developing countries. IDS research in South Asia shows that urban insecurity tends to receive an overtly militaristic response. While urban police forces continue to play a central role in creating safe and secure urban environments, it is also evident however, that sustainable security results from wider collaborations between state and non-state actors.