Citation

Koskela H. Theor. Criminol. 2011; 15(3): 269-282.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1362480610396646

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article examines the relationships between the authorities of surveillance and the public. Four 'modalities of surveillance' are used as a contextual framework to describe different relationships and to demonstrate that they can be bidirectional as well as unidirectional. In contemporary surveillance there is a dialogue between traditional surveillance and counter-surveillance which is targeted against the authorities. Yet, surveillance also contains performative practices and incidental witnessing in which the authorities play no role. The latest development involves responsibilizing the public, as citizens are encouraged to participate in gathering evidence for crime control. The article shows how the mutual correlations between surveillance, crime and evidence are constantly transforming.