Police Family Research Articles

Status of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Biology and Control Measures on Maize Crop in Ethiopia: A Review

Maize (Zea mays) is one of the main and popular cereal crops due to its high value as stable food as well as its stover demand for animal feed and fuel and even for construction purposes. Despite its current productivity is higher than other major cereal crops, the yield productivity is below its potential. These are due to many biotic and abiotic factors that can contribute to its yield potential of productivity to be below the previous productivity. The Fall Army Worm (FAW) is among the major factors contributing to low productivity currently in Ethiopia from its introduction in February 2017. Now it has covered about 52, 962 hectares in 144 districts in six of the major maize-growing regional states, namely Benishangul-Gumuz, Amhara, Tigray, Gambella, Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region. FAW, a new devastating insect pest is one of serious major problems for agricultural crop production especially under police family (maize) in Ethiopia under warm and humid conditions. This is due to its ability to breed rapidly, to migrate, and to feed on a wide range of host plants and these make it very difficult to control. Nonetheless, there are several ways of managing the pest reported in other parts of the world that can potentially be adapted and/or validated and used in Ethiopia. Hence, to manage these sporadic pests we have to use different management options. Among those, cultural, chemical, biological and integrated pest management is commonly used in pest infestation. Therefore, this paper initiated with the objective of reviewing the Status of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Biology and control measures on maize in Ethiopia.

Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrated by Police Officers: Is It Self-Control or the Desire-To-Be-In-Control that Matters More?

ABSTRACTWhile a number of studies have documented the correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrated by police officers, no study to date has examined the influence of self-control (i.e., self-regulation) and the desire-to-be-in-control on this study population. Therefore, data obtained from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997–1999 were analyzed to determine what influence, if any, these variables have on IPV. Results from logistic regression models indicated that self-control was not related to IPV, but the desire-to-be-in-control was found to be positive and significant in predicting the dependent variable. This study provided further evidence that IPV may be the result of a person’s desire to attain and maintain power and control over their partner’s behavior.

Citizens in policing: the lived reality of being a Police Support Volunteer

ABSTRACTThe focus of this article is the Police Support Volunteer (PSV), a brand of non-warranted and usually non-uniformed volunteer that was introduced in England and Wales from the 1990s onwards. The article draws on participatory action research with PSVs in Lancashire Constabulary. The background to greater use of volunteers within policing is discussed with particular reference to the political projects of austerity and responsibilisation – the later involving calls for citizens to take greater responsibility for their own safety and security. In these contexts, the article considers volunteers’ motivations, skills and deployment. The article focuses particularly on the lived reality of being a PSV, including the assumed role of PSVs within the wider police family. A subordinate relationship with other paid colleagues within the police family is challenged. The effective use of PSVs is discussed, including the introduction of police powers for volunteers with the 2017 Policing and Crime Act. Implications for our understanding of policing, and for the future of non-warranted volunteers, are discussed.

From ‘what works?’ to ‘who am I?’: Existential research in the extended policing family

Police forces are long established organizations shot through with tradition and confident of their underlying organizational identity. This means that when police practitioners collaborate with academics, they tend to be more concerned with pragmatic questions of ‘what works?’ than they are with existential questions of ‘who am I?’. However, on the fringes of the ‘extended policing family’, where organizational identities are far more fluid, a different picture emerges. These less established organizations are often equally interested in both types of question. This presents an opportunity for academics and practitioners to work together on deeper questions regarding the constitution of the policing landscape. Through the lens of Hatch and Schultz’s (2002) model of organizational identity dynamics, this article profiles one such example which revolves around a research collaboration between the Security Industry Authority – the public body tasked with regulating the UK private security industry – and the University of Sheffield.

Assessing the Role of Gambling on Problematic Alcohol Consumption by Police Officers

While a number of studies have attributed critical incident stressors to alcohol abuse among police officers, no study has examined the role gambling, if any, plays on problematic alcohol consumption. Therefore, data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-1999 are analyzed to test the influence of gambling on problematic alcohol consumption engaged by police officers. Results indicated that gambling is significant in predicting problematic alcohol consumption. Burnout, peer drinking, and self-control also predicted the dependent variable. The study's results, as well as the study's limitations and directions for future research, are also discussed.

Developing Volunteers in Policing: Assessing the Potential Volunteer Police Community Police Officer

AbstractCommunity or reassurance policing in the UK has developed concurrently with diversification and expansion of the policing family, including the broadening of volunteer opportunities beyond the traditional Special Constable and Police Support Volunteer roles. To increase capacity and capability in community-based policing, one Force introduced Volunteer Police Community Support Officers (VPCSOs) to complement that of employed PCSOs. This paper presents an exploratory discussion on a small-scale study of a previously un-researched and evolutionary area of police volunteering; evaluating the effectiveness of the VPCSO role reviewing its impact as a means of increasing community connectivity and meeting public demands for visibility policing. The introduction of VPCSOs was seen as successful by the Force involved which continues to develop the role as a useful ‘policing resource’. However, challenges to success were identified, not least the uncertainty surrounding the delegation of powers to volunteers that required a change in primary legislation.

When the Cop Is the Victim: A Test of Target Congruence Theory on Intimate Partner Violence Victimization Experienced by Police Officers.

This study analyzed data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-1999 (N = 753) to examine propositions derived from target congruence theory in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization experienced by police officers. Specifically, this study tested the influence of target vulnerability, target gratifiability, and target antagonism on IPV victimization. Results from logistic regression models showed that all three theoretical constructs positively and significantly predicted IPV victimization. Results, as well as the study's limitations and directions for future research, are discussed.

Using Gottfredson and Hirschi’sA General Theory of Crimeto Explain Problematic Alcohol Consumption by Police Officers: A Test of Self-Control as Self-Regulation

Problematic alcohol consumption by police officers is well documented in the literature. However, no study has utilized Gottfredson and Hirschi’s A General Theory of Crime to determine what role, if any, self-control (i.e., self-regulation) plays in predicting this behavior. Therefore, data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997-1999 are analyzed to test the influence of work-related stress on officers’ self-control and problem drinking. Results indicated that self-control is significant in predicting problematic alcohol consumption by police officers. Two control variables (burnout and peer drinking) also predicted the dependent variable. The current study provides further evidence that self-control continues to be one of the most consistent factors most likely to lead to criminal behavior, including those committed by police officers.

Minority Status and Spirituality among Police Officers: Blacks and Women in a Metropolitan Department

This paper addresses two questions: (1) What are the sources of spirituality among police officers? (2) Can spirituality alleviate police stress? These issues are examined in a secondary analysis of the dataset Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997–1999. The study extends research on law enforcement spirituality to include the structural sources of spirituality. Minority status easily emerges as a source of spirituality with the highest levels present among African Americans and females. Contrary to previous research that has found either non-existent or positive relationships between spirituality and work-related stress among law enforcement, this study finds that spirituality is weakly associated with lower levels of burnout after controlling for demographic factors. However, the weak relationship between spirituality and perceived stress disappears when controlling for burnout and demographic factors, thus undermining the ability to make any overarching claims about the influence of spirituality that can cover all kinds of police stress.

The role of religious coping on problematic alcohol consumption by police officers

Problematic alcohol consumption by police officers is well documented in the literature. It also shows that critical incident stress is correlated with this behavior. A separate body of research indicates that religious coping exerts a moderate protective effect on various types of problematic behavior, including problematic alcohol consumption. We merge these literatures in an effort to determine if religious coping reduces problematic alcohol consumption by police officers and whether it mitigates the positive relationship between critical incident stress and problematic drinking. Data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997–1999 are analyzed to examine these propositions (n = 1004). Results indicate that police officers with higher levels of religious coping were in fact less likely to report problematic alcohol consumption. However, religious coping did not mitigate the positive relationship between critical incident stress and problematic alcohol consumption. The implications of our findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Secondary traumatic stress and secondary posttraumatic growth in a sample of Dutch police family liaison officers.

This study investigated secondary traumatic stress (STS) and secondary posttraumatic growth (SPG) in a sample of Dutch police family liaison officers (N=224). Our study had two aims: (a) to identify potential risk and protective factors for STS and (b) to investigate the association between STS and SPG. None of the risk (caseload and a personal trauma history) and protective factors (age, work experience, and support by supervisors and coworkers) identified in previous research correlated with STS. However, a small positive association was found between STS and SPG. In the discussion section we warn against the use of interventions that aim to prevent STS until more is known about risk and protective factors for STS and provide directions for future research.

Postcards

Postcards Bettie Parsons Barger, Andrés Montañés-Lleras, Yi-Ching Su, Magdel Vorster, Jongsun Wee, Roxanne Harde, İpek Onmuş, and Olga Bukhina In two charming tales from a Swedish author, Detective Gordon, a very wise toad and Chief of Police in the forest, must solve mysteries. In the first book, Detective Gordon helps a squirrel find his missing hoard of nuts. During his investigation, Gordon finds Buffy, a mouse who has no family or place to live. Thus, an assistant position is created for Buffy, who is willing and ready for sleuthing. In the second mystery, the entire forest is unhappy because of an unidentified bully, and it is up to Detective Gordon and Buffy to put an end to it, because in the forest, “It is permitted to be nice but forbidden to be nasty.”As Buffy becomes part of the Police family, she develops a true friendship with Detective Gordon. Both feel a strong sense of duty to keep the forest safe and happy. When Detective Gordon learns that Buffy cannot read, he teachers her. In turn, Buffy uses unusual strategies to uncover clues when Detective Gordon catches up on his sleep. Together, they make a strong team. Nilsson’s short chapters and clever, well-developed plots, Marshall’s crisp translation, and Spee’s soft paintings make these titles ideal for early readers ready for adventure and mystery. Bettie Parsons Barger Detective Gordon: The First Case; Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case Ulf Nilsson Illus. Gitte Spee Trans. Julia Marshall Wellington, New Zealand: Gecko Press, 2015. 93 pp. ISBN: 978-1-927271-49-0; 978-1-776570-59-1 (Fiction; ages 6-8) In the village of Palenque, very few people know how to read or write. When her older sister starts receiving what she thinks are love letters, however, a young girl decides it is time to learn to read so they can figure out together what the letters say. With the help of Mr. Velandia, the village’s gentle shopkeeper, who offers to teach her in exchange for helping him around the shop, the little girl learns to recognize the different letters and then some words, until she is able to read and write on her own. Using a piece of charcoal she borrows from the kitchen, she starts to teach other children as well. Vasco’s own experiences conducting literacy work shops with Afro-Colombian and other communities inspired this story. It is a tribute to all the women, mothers, and librarians that she met during her travels—who had often learned to read by themselves in order to teach their children and share with them the pleasure of reading. Palomino’s beautiful illustrations fi ll the page with thick colors and textures that evoke the vibrant culture and landscape from Colombia’s coastal regions and bring the story and the characters to life. Andrés Montañés-Lleras Letras al Cartoon (Charcoal Letters) Irene Vasco Illus. Juan Palomino Barcelona, Spain: Editorial Juventud, 2015. 32 pp. ISBN: 978-958-8846-33-0 (Picture book; ages 4+) [End Page 42] Paper House Effigy is a story about the traditional art of pasted-paper sculptures in Taiwan, told from a little boy’s perspective. His grandfather is a Taoist priest and a master of paper pasting. Through telling the boy’s memories of his grandfather, Liao introduces the meanings behind burning paper effigies for religious rituals and funerals to readers. The dialogue between the boy and his grandfather are informative and moving and convey the grandfather’s enthusiasm for passing down the wisdom of this important Chinese ritual practiced for over a thousand years. They also reveal the boy’s admiration and care for his grandfather. Wang’s illustrations show the grandfather tying bamboo and cutting and pasting colorful patterned paper on bamboo frameworks to create a wide range of paper effigies—such as a luxurious palace for Jade Emperor God, a fancy mansion for a dear friend who passed away, and a small palanquin for the soul of the deceased. The collage illustrations show the details in creating pasted-paper sculptures, and they capture the solemn atmosphere of burning paper effigies as offerings or gifts for...

Plural policing in Europe: relationships and governance in contemporary security systems

ABSTRACTReferences to ‘plural policing’, ‘policing beyond the police’ and the ‘extended policing family’ are now commonplace in many discussions of policing in late modern societies. There is a danger that claims about the dynamic and changing nature of plural policing themselves become a new orthodoxy and begin to lose a sense of local nuance and recognition of the importance of place-based specificity and context in understanding the particularities of policing. It is this need to unpack the complex ways in which contemporary plural policing is now configured at a local level within different national political environments that provides the underpinning rationale for this Special Issue. Focussing on aspects of relationships and governance in six jurisdictions across northern and western Europe, it provides important insights into how the policies, practices and narratives around plural policing reflect the influence of particular histories and geographies. The first three articles are focused primarily on the relationships which have emerged in the public sector through its own processes of pluralisation, in particular, through the introduction of policing auxiliaries or municipal policing in Scotland, England and The Netherlands. The fourth article considers both relationships and governance in pluralised policing in Paris, France. A detailed analysis of the governance of safety and security is taken up in the final two articles, examining the cases of Austria and Belgium. These articles clearly demonstrate that experiences of pluralised policing vary widely within Europe and call into question the assumed dominance of neo-liberal forces in this area.

Applying Differential Coercion and Social Support Theory to Police Officers’ Misconduct

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study is to test differential coercion and social support theory on police officers’ misconduct. Data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997–1999 are analyzed to test the propositions of the theory. Specifically, we test whether this theory can explain intimate partner violence (IPV) and problematic drinking perpetrated by police officers. Results indicated that two types of coercion (out of five) were significant in predicting IPV perpetration, while two alternate forms of coercion were significant in predicting problematic alcohol consumption. Anger was the only significant social–psychological deficit in predicting both dependent variables. Social support, mainly from family/friends and the department, only decreased the odds of problematic alcohol consumption. The current study provides further evidence that victimization continues to be one of the most consistent forms of coercion most likely to lead to criminal behavior.

‘You don’t want people knowing you’re a copper!’ A contemporary assessment of police organisational culture

Police organisations have recently experienced a number of significant transformations, including changes to police officer demography, the adoption of community-oriented policing models and increased accountability requirements. The impacts of these changes upon the dominant police organisational cultural characteristics have been speculated upon, but have not been empirically assessed. Via the use of the cultural web methodology applied in both interviews and focus groups with N = 42 sworn police officers, this research assessed the key dimensions of contemporary police organisational culture. The results indicated the existence of five dominant police organisational culture characteristics: the police family, control, us versus them, masculinity, and subcultural differences. We also identified two dominant themes regarding the key changes to the police culture: reduction in social rituals and increased scrutiny. We discuss how these results both support previous descriptions of the core components of police organisational culture and update previous findings by identifying significant changes to police cultural norms and practices.

Beyond the thin blue line? A critical analysis of Scotland's Community Warden Scheme

ABSTRACTOver the past decade the national governments of the UK have repositioned ‘community safety’ as a priority area. The complexity of reducing real and perceived crime rates and levels of antisocial behaviour is widely accepted. This has inspired the development of numerous programmes aimed at delivering safer and stronger communities in specific contexts. One of the strategies promoted in Scotland is the Community Warden Scheme, which aims to provide a ‘uniformed, semi-official police presence’ at a community level. Scotland's Community Wardens characterise the growing trend towards the pluralisation of police service providers, as a myriad of actors constitute the ‘extended policing family’. Amidst the diversification and expansion of policing actors, issues surrounding public accountability and policing authority loom large. This paper aims to critically examine the role of Scotland's Community Wardens in relation to the broader policing landscape, drawing on empirical data generated in one city (Dundee). It will start by discussing the political and policy context surrounding the creation of the Community Warden Scheme, and describing the Wardens’ main roles and responsibilities. The paper will then outline two substantive issues facing the Wardens as highlighted by the primary research. First, the importance of developing a distinct professional identity will be explored. Second, the imperative of working alongside local policing teams will be discussed. In suggesting methods of good practice, the everyday challenges of navigating intra-professional expectations, inter-professional tensions and public accountability will be critically analysed.

Street pastors as substitutes for trust in the context of plural policing

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the work of the Street Pastors, a Christian organisation offering support to people in the night time economy (NTE), through the perceptions of students. The role played by this organisation is becoming more important as a shift from policing “by”, “through” and “beyond” to policing from “below” occurs (Jones and Lister, 2015). While the Street Pastors would not regard themselves as “police agents” there is undoubtedly a close connection albeit with geographical variation (Johnset al., 2009b). An evaluation of their activities and of public attitudes particularly around issues of trust is therefore important.Design/methodology/approach– An online survey using the university’s student “portal” invited students to participate. A small incentive was offered, in the form of a prize draw for £50 worth of shopping vouchers. The survey took place during the first part of the Spring term during 2012 (January and February). The study analyses the 361 responses in reference to their knowledge of the Street Pastors, whether they had any “interactions” with them and whether they were regular users of the NTE.Findings– Overwhelmingly respondents were either positive or completely ambivalent about the Street Pastors. The responses to the attitude statements indicated that the Street Pastors are seen as “independent” of police officers. The links between Street Pastors and crime reduction are not clear, however, respondents agreed that the Street Pastors did contribute to safety in the city.Research limitations/implications– There are more than 20,000 students in the city and the findings can therefore be seen as tentative and indicative rather than generalisable to the entire student population. With the increasing emphasis on community involvement in “policing”, the findings from the research does suggest that the street pastor’s voluntary patrols are beneficial in terms of enhancing perceptions of safety.Practical implications– Street Pastors do have an important role in the policing of the NTE, from handing out water and flip flops to comforting those who are in distress. Within the broader “police family” their role can then make a positive contribution to the practical challenges associated with a volatile environment.Social implications– The NTE is associated with considerable public health and safety issues and the contribution of a voluntary group to easing some of these problems is significant. Whilst their presence is not entirely unproblematic, particularly in raising questions of accountability, their activities could be argued to contribute to the well-being of revellers.Originality/value– Research on policing “below” the level of the state is street pastors is an under-explored area. Street pastors have attracted very little attention despite their being a large organisation that are a feature of NTEs throughout the UK.

Shoring up the ‘home guard’? Reflections on the development and deployment of police support volunteer programmes in England and Wales

ABSTRACTWhilst as a branch of the extended police family they are under-researched, volunteers have long played a role within constabularies. However, in the context of dominant political ideologies which have called for citizens to be more active in crime control and, more prosaically, pressure on police budgets at a time of state contraction, the volunteer is becoming more visible both in policing policy discourse and in practice. A novelty within Anglo-Welsh policing, this article explores the development and deployment of police support volunteer (PSV) programmes. First, it examines the nature of the roles that PSVs play and how these relate to roles played by other actors in the organisation. Second, it explores aspects of their management focusing on their coordination, training and supervision. Third, it considers the degree to which PSVs are integrated into the organisation and accepted by other actors who work therein, and discusses the reasons why the promulgation of PSVs might be resisted by salaried staff. Lastly, the article considers the implications in light of the scholarship on the pluralisation of policing focusing on the interlinked themes of effectiveness, coordination and integration and regulation and accountability.

Crisis management: the spiritual aspects of victim recovery in serious crime

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore crisis management in terms of the spiritual aspects of victim recovery. The paper focuses, in particular, on victims of serious crime. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the available literature on crisis management, serious crime, spirituality and pastoral support to determine their impact on trauma recovery. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with a number of police chaplains and a hospital chaplain, in addition to police family liaison officers and witness care officers, who have in-depth involvement with victims of serious crime, to explore the support available and identify gaps against existing theory. Findings – Spiritual/pastoral support is available to police officers in the form of police chaplains. Their support is reported to be valuable in the crisis recovery process. Hospital patients report such support as integral to mental and emotional well-being and recovery. Victims of serious crime are not offered such pastoral services through the criminal justice system, though other more practical needs are provided for. This gap could have implications for the effectiveness of the criminal justice process. Research limitations/implications – The research is an exploratory study and seeks to open up debate in this arena. The research is localised to a specific region and may not generalise nationally/internationally. Practical implications – The paper evaluates the role and import of spiritual support in trauma recovery, makes a number of recommendations to plug the gap in current provision to victims of serious crime and suggests directions for further research in this area. Social implications – There are limited social implications. Originality/value – There has been very limited research conducted in this specific area and this paper seeks to redress this gap and suggests opportunities for further research to enhance victim crisis recovery and participation in the criminal justice process.

Models for violence by Turkish police officers toward romantic partners and police partners

Social learning theory suggests that displays of violence in close relationships would be increased for individuals exposed to family models of violence, especially from parents. Because police officers may regard their departments as a second ‘family,’ violence shown by the ‘father figure’ police supervisor may be a significant model for violence, as recent research has found for American police officers. The police supervisor might also be expected to be a powerful model for violence because Turkish police officers serve in a male-dominated workplace in a largely male-dominated society. This study examined how violence reported by Turkish police officers in their close relationships (toward romantic partners, toward police partners) was explained by parental models from the ‘home family’ (father-to-mother, mother-to-father, father-to-participant, mother-to-participant) and from the ‘police family’ (supervisor-to-participant). Study participants included 233 Turkish police officers (96% male; 66% under 30 years of age; 6.9 mean years of service) who completed anonymous questionnaires to report violence in each relationship using the six-item subscale of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the set of ‘home family’ and ‘police family’ parental models explained 42% of variance in romantic partner violence and 74% of variance in police partner aggression. Violence from the police supervisor was the most consistent and significant model, perhaps because the police supervisor was a new and powerful ‘father figure’ for the relatively young officers of the present study. Violence received from the mother was also associated with increased risk of police partner violence, perhaps because mothers were the officers’ primary caretakers during childhood, making their style of conflict resolution the most prevalent parental model. Employee assistance programs to encourage ‘Peace in the Family’ for Turkish police officers may require participation by police supervisors, who must model non-violent conflict resolution in their departments.