The notion of the ethics of illegality enables us to compare policing, security and crime beyond the boundaries of the nation-state. It may help us understand how police and policed across the world deal differently or similarly with law breaking. 

The Juvenile Officer of the Rotterdam Police tweets a mug shot of three juveniles because ‘the public needs to know that juveniles too commit bicycle theft.’ Such “involvement” and “engagement” comes with a price, says Paul Mutsaers.