Conspiracy theorists in policing: causes, challenges, and considerations

Abstract

ABSTRACT There has been little empirical or conceptual work on conspiracy theories within a policing context. This gap is concerning given emerging evidence suggesting that conspiracy beliefs can have significant consequences in several important personal, social, and political dimensions. Some of these consequences may also impact both the operational environment of policing and the police workforce. To address the research gap, this study reviewed research into conspiracy antecedents applicable to police work conditions, the nature of police, and police officers to identify a core set of antecedents which may lead to conspiracy thinking in policing. To account for the often context dependent nature of policing, case studies were drawn from the Australian and New Zealand context, identified using the open-source intelligence (OSINT) method. 12 case studies were ultimately identified as suitable for inclusion. Applying the core set of antecedents to the case studies through content analysis revealed that cynicism related to policing organisations or police work is a key antecedent, alongside the ‘social function’ antecedent where conspiracy theories serve to protect a group from perceived threats. Lastly, to provide practical guidance to police organisations and leadership, the article proposes four possible intervention strategies against conspiracy theories in policing.