ABOLISHING THE POLICE: FROM LAW ENFORCERS TO LAW UMPIRES

In an age of growing distrust between the public and state power, the need for bold, visionary reform has never been clearer. Abolishing the Police: From Law Enforcers to Law Umpires proposes a radical yet reasoned alternative to modern policing. It challenges the long-standing structures that grant law enforcement unchecked authority, proposing instead a new justice model grounded in civil arbitration and judicial oversight.
This powerful book introduces the concept of Civars—Civil Arbitrators—who replace traditional police as neutral erranders of the court. Civars have no powers of investigation or prosecution. Instead, they respond to emergencies as public servants tasked with evidence collection, arrest only by court mandate, and conflict de-escalation. They are the link between citizen complaints and a court system redesigned to lead investigations and manage legal representation for all parties.
Omolaja argue that policing, as it stands, is inherently flawed—especially in countries with entrenched histories of systemic abuse and colonial policing. But rather than merely critique, this book presents a framework for rebuilding justice from the ground up: separating powers, restoring public trust, and ensuring true accountability under court direction.
From the dismantling of armed patrols to the creation of a court-run investigatory service, from ending stop-and-search to decolonising public safety—Abolishing the Police is not just a call to tear down. It is a call to reimagine and rebuild.
This is the end of the police. And the beginning of justice.