This course provides a critical, evidence-informed introduction to policing in Australia. You will examine why we have police, what they actually do, and how their powers are used and contested in a democratic society. Topics include the origins and development of Australian policing, police powers and accountability, interactions with vulnerable communities, the use of technology and AI, and contemporary debates about reform, defunding and alternatives. The course develops your ability to analyse policing practice and policy, and propose future directions for policing in society.