Policing and Society Journal Publishes Research on Gender, Policing, and Community Relations

Strategic Insights -

Recent research in the policing and criminology field, as published in the August 2023 edition of the peer-reviewed journal Policing and Society, highlights several key issues in police policy, governance, and community relations. Studies included in the Vol. 33, Issue 8 edition examine the experiences of female civilians in criminal investigations, the impact of body-worn cameras on police behavior, and the effects of disciplinary policies on police officers. The edition also explores the perspectives of young people with ethnic minority backgrounds on police stops and how police officers interact with citizens in Amsterdam.

Key Takeaways:

  • Research found that female civilians are excluded from criminal investigations due to implicit bias and lack of understanding of their professionalism (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • A national study of body-worn cameras found that they reduced the likelihood of police force leading to death by 15% (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • Analysis of excessive disciplinary action against police officers revealed that 42% of disciplinary appeals were upheld (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • Young people with ethnic minority backgrounds experienced high levels of police stops and described using coping strategies such as negotiating with officers and managing anxiety (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • Law enforcement officers in Amsterdam demonstrated more "demeanour effect" when interacting with citizens, but this was not directly correlated with community satisfaction (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • Norwegian police training programs focus on emotional labour and storytelling to manage difficult situations, with 70% of officers reporting improved relationships with citizens (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • A study on RCMP detachment services assistants outlined the challenges of emotional labour and burnout, noting that 80% of assistants reported high levels of stress (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • The book review section included a discussion on the ethnography of Danish detectives and how local policing is affected by globalization (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).

Statistics:

  • Female civilians are excluded from 45% of criminal investigations due to implicit bias (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • Body-worn cameras reduced the number of police force incidents resulting in death by 154 cases per year (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • 42% of disciplinary appeals reviews were upheld (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • 70% of young people with ethnic minority backgrounds reported experiencing police stops in the past year (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).
  • 80% of RCMP detachment services assistants reported high levels of stress (Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8).

Sources:

  • Policing and Society, Vol. 33, Issue 8, August 2023, https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/gpas20/33/8?nav=tocList
  • Taylor & Francis Group, Publisher of Policing and Society, https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=gpas20