Robocop

Flash Forward

In this future there are no more human police officers. Is that even possible?

The future of policing is a really really complicated topic. And it’s also, and this might be the understatement of the year, a controversial one. On this episode we’re not going to try and give you a full picture of what the future of policing might be. That would take hours. Instead, we’re going to focus on two really specific pieces of this topic.

First we talk to Madeline Ashby, futurist and science fiction writer, about robots, and what it might be like if we replaced human law enforcement with robotic law enforcement. Then, we talk to historian and writer Walidah Imarisha, about a future with no cops at all. We also hear from Doug Wyllie, the Editor at Large for PoliceOne, who, perhaps unsurprisingly, doesn't like either proposal.

Further reading:

Disrupt Tha Police by Madeline Ashby

Bomb Robots: What Makes Killing In Dallas Different And What Happens Next?

Robocop Delivers Pizza, Prevents Suicide

11 Police Robots Patrolling Around the World

Machine Bias

Hard Truths: Law Enforcement and Race

Angels with Dirty Faces

Wrestling With Angels: Walidah Imarisha on Harm and Accountability

Audre Lord Safe Outside the System Collective

Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. Special thanks this week to Brent Rose. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.

If you want to suggest a future we should take on, send us a note on Twitter, Facebook or by email at [e-mail]. We love hearing your ideas! And if you think you’ve spotted one of the little references I’ve hidden in the episode, email us there too. If you’re right, I’ll send you something cool.

And if you want to support the show, there are a few ways you can do that too! We have a Patreon page, where you can donate to the show. But if that’s not in the cards for you, you can head to iTunes and leave us a nice review or just tell your friends about us. Those things really do help.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices