Their reports are not read and their recommendations are resisted: the challenge for the global police policy community

The goal of reforming policing systems in transitional, conflict‐torn, and failed states has become a major focus of donor assistance projects, for without effective, efficient, equitable, and accountable policing wider social, economic, and political development is not likely to be sustained. Although a large reform literature, written by members of a global police policy community, has been generated, few long‐range improvements can be pointed out. We argue that this failure to have a stronger impact through aid and assistance has resulted mainly from the priority of donor over recipient interests, lack of knowledge about policing, non‐appreciation of the complexities of local security conditions, and the inability to link conceptual advice to the practicalities of implementation. We suggest some changes in how policing reforms should be approached.