What are the two main categories of accountability mechanisms mentioned for policing?

• A. Licensing and Accreditation
• B. Oversight and Standards
• C. Internal investigation and EWS
• D. Professionalism and Reliability

Answer: (B)

Two broad categories describe how policing is held accountable: oversight and standards. Oversight covers the monitoring and review of police actions—internal affairs, civilian oversight bodies, inspectorates, audits, and formal complaint processes—that check conduct, investigate issues, and push for corrective action. Standards refer to the formal expectations that guide policing practice—professional norms, training requirements, licensing or accreditation, and policy benchmarks that define competent and ethical policing. Together, standards establish what is expected, while oversight enforces those expectations and addresses deviations. The other options mix elements of these categories or point to outcomes rather than the mechanism types (licensing/accreditation align with standards; internal investigations and early warning systems fit under oversight; professionalism/reliability describe goals).