policing

[puh-lee-sing]

noun

1. the act of maintaining public order and security, enforcing the law, or regulating or controlling something, by or as if by members of a police force.

   No matter what style is adopted for the policing of a community, officers must use discretion in interpreting the activities of citizens.

   Careful family use of the internet doesn't need to be a punitive policing of children's activities online.

2. Military.,  the act of cleaning up a camp or post or of keeping it clean.

   After the major’s visit, the policing of the entire camp and all the fighting positions improved 100 percent.

Other Word Forms

• self-policing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of policing¹

First recorded in 1830–40; police ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Such incidents have resurfaced the Indonesian public’s festering distrust of the police force, said Jacqui Baker, a scholar of Indonesian security and policing at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier on Wednesday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government needed to "look at" the relevant legislation following the arrest, adding ministers "want the police to focus on policing streets rather than tweets".

From BBC

"As the prime minister and home secretary have been clear, we want the police to focus on policing streets rather than tweets," the health secretary said.

From BBC

Mr Stephens said the demand on policing could be reduced by better integration of refugees.

From BBC

While he did not order the immediate withdrawal of the roughly 300 troops who remain in Los Angeles, he barred them from engaging in policing duties unless Congress explicitly authorizes it.

From Salon

Related Words

• police 
• police force