In previous chapters we have shown how, from the second half of the twentieth century, there have been significant trends in the governance, regulation and policing of contemporary society. These trends rely on risk identification to achieve social, economic and political goals. In criminal justice, this has meant less focus on the identification, prosecution and rehabilitation of guilty individuals, and more on identifying, preventing or reducing potential crime risks. Also, the broadening scope of governance has involved non-traditional agencies and individuals in the process of crime control and prevention, and placed traditional agents such as police in a new role. Police now partner with other state and non-state agencies in crime control and prevention networks. Third party policing occurs when police strategies to control or prevent crime involve partnerships or networks, voluntary or coerced, police-initiated or directed by government, with non-offending third parties (such as regulators, business owners, landlords, community groups, schools and parents).

Third party policing occurs within a legal framework that establishes the authority for police to partner with or coerce third parties, the contexts in which they can do that, and the types of intervention this may produce. Indeed, we argue that it is the legal basis of third party policing that both defines it as a unique strategy and distinguishes it from other policing interventions, most notably problem-oriented policing. This chapter begins with an overview of the types of legal frameworks in which third party policing can occur.