Fault Lines Deadly Force: Arming America's Police Deadly Force: Arming America's Police
US police forces are increasingly using military-style tactics to carry out even the most routine daily operations. The number of SWAT teams and SWAT-style raids across the county have skyrocketed in the last few decades. SWAT raids occur at an estimated 50,000 raids per year and a majority take place for low-level crimes. It is a trend that is being propped up by billions of federal dollars in Homeland Security grants and access to free military equipment through the Department of Defense for civilian law enforcement agencies. In the past, police SWAT teams were only used in extreme circumstances; today, they are increasingly sent out to perform routine tasks. Nowadays, there are tens of thousands of military-style police raids every year. But only the worst cases make the news. Fault Lines travels to California and Tennessee to look at the effects of the increasing militarisation of US police departments.
We live in a world run through with Fault Lines. Al Jazeera's Fault Lines takes you beyond the headlines and holds the powerful to account as we examine the US' role in the world.
Primary Title
- Fault Lines
Secondary Title
- Deadly Force: Arming America's Police
Episode Title
- Deadly Force: Arming America's Police
Date Broadcast
- Wednesday 18 March 2015
Start Time
- 18 : 30
Finish Time
- 19 : 00
Duration
- 30:00
Channel
- Al Jazeera English
Broadcaster
- Al Jazeera Media Network
Programme Description
- We live in a world run through with Fault Lines. Al Jazeera's Fault Lines takes you beyond the headlines and holds the powerful to account as we examine the US' role in the world.
Episode Description
- US police forces are increasingly using military-style tactics to carry out even the most routine daily operations. The number of SWAT teams and SWAT-style raids across the county have skyrocketed in the last few decades. SWAT raids occur at an estimated 50,000 raids per year and a majority take place for low-level crimes. It is a trend that is being propped up by billions of federal dollars in Homeland Security grants and access to free military equipment through the Department of Defense for civilian law enforcement agencies. In the past, police SWAT teams were only used in extreme circumstances; today, they are increasingly sent out to perform routine tasks. Nowadays, there are tens of thousands of military-style police raids every year. But only the worst cases make the news. Fault Lines travels to California and Tennessee to look at the effects of the increasing militarisation of US police departments.
Classification
- Not Classified
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
- Police--United States
- Police--Political aspects--United States
Genres
- Current affairs
Subjects
- Police--United States
- Police--Political aspects--United States