Renowned criminologist Mike Hough illuminates the principles and practices of good policing in this important analysis of the police service’s legitimacy and the factors, such as public trust, that drive it. As concern grows at the growth in crimes of serious violence, he challenges conventional political and public thinking on crime and scrutinises strategies and tactics like deterrence and stop-and-search. Contrasting ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ approaches to policing and punishment, he offers a fresh perspective that stresses the importance of securing normative compliance. For officers, students, policy makers and anyone who has an interest in the police force, this is a valuable roadmap for ethical policing.The legitimacy of modern policing and public trust in it are scrutinised in this important review from renowned criminologist Mike Hough. Reviewing ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ styles of policing, he challenges conventional thinking on crime and punishment, thinks afresh about strategies and ethics and maps out how the police service can build legitimacy and public trust and thereby reduce offending.