Public Order and Crime: The PNC at a Crossroads

It is not easy-if indeed it is at all possible-to examine the scope of the concepts of public order and criminality as they relate to the actions of personnel assigned to the National Civil Police (PNC). This study owes its existence to citizens' lived experiences and the drive for institutional reform. Human life is sacred; it is the duty of every State to respect and protect it. There is a formal prohibition on enslavement and forced labour, as freedom is guaranteed. Any accused person is presumed innocent until their guilt is established by a final judgement. It is essential to emphasise the regulation of human interactions within a state in order to prevent arbitrariness and anarchy. The concepts of public order and delinquency have become fixed notions whose scope remains undefined. Violations of civil liberties are attributed to law enforcement officers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This book examines the origins, the causes with tangible consequences, and offers an analytical framework aimed at identifying a way forward. It is of use to humanitarian workers, citizens, public administrators and academics.