Enforcements

limited authority and unrealistic expectations

While the ‘real’ police officers focus on serious crime and delinquency, other enforcers uphold what is called the “small norm”: they fine citizens who park incorrectly, ride public transport without a ticket, deal with people who make too much noise in the street, leave behind dog waste, or dump litter at the wrong place. They patrol metro stations in groups, tow away cars if necessary, or stop traffic with a raised hand in solitude.

Why don’t you go catch real criminals?

Enforcers stand on the front line of our society and have steadily emancipated themselves: from the strolling, low-skilled inspector, through the technocratic ticket-writer, to today’s professional, vocationally trained enforcer. Their contribution to the livability of a neighborhood, forest, tram, street, and festival is often essential. And yet some people are often deeply annoyed by these figures, dressed in fluorescent uniforms. “Why don’t you go catch real criminals?” they shout at the somewhat uneasy human beings doing their job.

Every day, enforcers balance on a thin rope between limited authority and unrealistic expectations. They have become the canary in the coal mine. Our anger and urge to resist might be an early warning signal of greater danger. What happened to our patience and cooperation?