Conventional understanding of power and authority are challenged in this bold new conceptualisation of police leadership. Drawing on empirical research in criminology, sociology and leadership studies, leading authors Claire Davis and Marisa Silvestri critically explore how leadership is constructed and experienced within wider organisational structures and processes. They provide an alternative and fresh interpretation of leadership as not simply the result of individual experiences and attitudes, but of social, institutional and historical processes. It is an essential text for policing students, academics interested in policing and valuable reading for current police leaders.

“This is a ‘must read’ book for anyone studying or participating in leadership in policing. It is extremely well written, extensively sourced and highly topical in its focus...will rapidly become a leading text in its field.” Stephen Savage, University of Portsmouth
"A comprehensive summary of theory and literature skilfully interpreted to provide meaningful insights and future directions for police leadership practice and research. Essential reading for any police leader, student or teacher. " Keith Floyd, University of Leicester

Claire Davis is Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Leicester. Her research interests lie in the sociology of policing and the practice and experience of leadership, power and authority in a policing context. She is an Associate Inspector for Leadership with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and the Book Review Editor for Policing and Society. Marisa Silvestri is Reader in Criminology at the University of Kent. Her main research interests lie at the intersections of gender, crime, justice, policing. More specifically, her research focuses on the gendered dimensions of police leadership and the development of more complex readings of police organisational culture(s). She sits on the editorial board of Policing and Society and is an Executive Committee member of the British Society of Criminology.