Police Practices Research Articles

Police specialism in England and Wales: an exploratory review

Purpose There is a surprising lack of underpinning evidence relating to how police specialism is defined, conceived and operationalised nationally. This study aims to shed light on the development of specialism, adding insights towards academic and police knowledge on the topic. Design/methodology/approach Exploratory research was conducted to draw evidence on police specialism in England and Wales according to publications in the literature and insights from high-ranking police officers. A total of 57 documents and 10 officers’ accounts were thematically analysed. Five main themes have been identified, relating to the development, impact and barriers of specialist units, knowledge and training. Findings Socio-cultural, policy-based and historical information that contributed to the development of specialism in its contemporary form were discussed. The conceptual triggers for the institution of most specialist units were disasters and a need for modernisation. In both cases, police forces were faced with the inability to keep up with emerging threats and new criminal techniques. Some exceptions apply, with specialisms of sex offences still being underdeveloped and underfunded compared to other crimes. Overall, although specialism has the potential to positively impact police efficacy, the specialist knowledge of officers working within specialist units is frequently inferred – rather than measured. Practical implications Organisational support and the quality of training impact specialism effectiveness. The substantial lack of resources allocated to specialism means that training for some crime types is either unavailable or difficult to complete. Police officers fear that specialism might lead to elitism and corrupt police practices. There is no evidence, however, that elitist beliefs are the direct result of specialism or rather additional co-occurring organisational, cultural and force-specific or role-dependant factors. Police officers’ wellbeing and specialist capacity take a significant toll. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first modern study of its kind that investigated how police specialism is conceived, instituted and prioritised in England and Wales.

Modernizando a Redação Policial: Protótipo de Aplicativo Android para a Elaboração de Relatos de Ocorrências

This article presents the development of an Android application prototype designed to assist Military Police officers with writing incident reports. The application leverages Google's Gemini AI API to provide real-time grammar correction and intelligent suggestions for writing improvement, acting as an experienced officer reviewing and enhancing the text. The app's architecture, based on the MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) pattern, and the user interface design, focused on simplicity and usability, are detailed. The implementation of the Gemini AI API, including the system prompt that defines the AI's role and behavior, is explored, along with cost analysis and comparison with other popular natural language processing APIs like OpenAI and Anthropic. Test results using real incident reports demonstrate the app's ability to improve text clarity, conciseness, and professionalism, as well as provide relevant suggestions for police practice, such as missing information, legal procedures, and evidence collection. The article discusses the impacts and benefits of the application for the PMPR, the limitations of the technology, and suggestions for future work, including integration with other platforms and expansion of AI functionalities.

The ethics of facial recognition in police practice: beyond the usual concerns

The ethics of facial recognition in police practice: beyond the usual concerns

Police Use of Force in Mental Health Crises: An Analysis of Coronial Inquest Findings from Australia

Police are frequently the initial responders to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. These situations sometimes escalate to the point where police resort to the use of force, resulting at times in injury and, less often, loss of life. This study draws on data from coronial inquest reports of cases involving police use of fatal force against persons with mental illness from one Australian jurisdiction. It examines the contextual factors leading up to these incidents, the personal backgrounds and mental health histories of the individuals in crisis, and the tactical approaches employed by police leading to the use of deadly force. Understanding these insights is crucial as they can potentially guide efforts to reform police practices in dealing with individuals in mental health crises and ultimately may help to prevent fatal outcomes.

“They talk about it like it's an overdose crisis when in fact it's basically genocide”: The experiences of Indigenous peoples who use illicit drugs in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood

Indigenous Peoples who use illicit drugs (IPWUID) are disproportionately represented among toxic drug poisoning deaths in Canada. These drug-related harms are framed by the historical and ongoing trauma related to settler colonialism and are acutely visible in Vancouver, Canada's Downtown Eastside - a low-income neighbourhood that is an epicenter of the drug poisoning crisis and characterized by entrenched poverty, substance use, violence, and homelessness. This study was undertaken to examine the experiences and perspectives of IPWUID in the Downtown Eastside regarding the drug poisoning crisis and the responsiveness of harm reduction programs within the context of settler colonialism. Indigenous-led qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 IPWUID recruited by Indigenous peer researchers. Indigenous ways of knowing were embedded throughout the entire research design to ensure research was culturally congruent. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically and interpreted by drawing on concepts of social violence and racial capitalism. Our analysis reviewed three key themes that centered the experiences of IPWUID in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside in relation to the drug poisoning crisis: (1) that the drug poisoning crisis is understood as a form of genocide toward Indigenous Peoples; (2) that the crisis is experienced within the context of pervasive distrust and adversarial relationships with police rooted in structurally racist experiences of place-based policing practices; and (3) that there is a desire for culturally-safe harm reduction care with Indigenous representation, cultural integration, and that addresses inequities and injustice stemming from colonialism and structural racism. Findings demonstrate how responses to the drug poisoning crisis among IPWUID need to respond to social and materials conditions perpetuated by colonialism and racial capitalism, while also centering IPWUID through the development and implementation of Indigenous-led and culturally safe harm reduction approaches.

On the use of receiver operating characteristic area under the curve in eyewitness memory research

AbstractPurposeEyewitness memory research has reformed police practices and policy and is sometimes relied upon in legal proceedings. Due to the practical implications derived from this research, it is imperative to evaluate how practical recommendations are postulated. To assess the practical relevance of research, effect sizes and their interpretation play a pivotal role.MethodsWe examined how the frequently used effect size Area Under the Curve (AUC) obtained via Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves are used and interpreted in eyewitness memory research. We identified 157 eyewitness memory related articles that conducted ROC curve analyses resulting in 1580 AUCs.ResultsApproximately 90% of the AUCs were only interpreted via statistical significance. The majority of studies did not report 95%CIs for their AUCs. Finally, power analyses were frequently not conducted or not reproducible.ConclusionsTo improve the practical inferences of eyewitness memory research, we recommend establishing a smallest effect size of interest, focusing on 95%CIs, and conducting reproducible power analyses.

Advancing police-researcher collaboration and evidence-based policing: an evaluation of the applied criminology and data management course

ABSTRACT While the demand for evidence-based policing (EBP) has increased and researchers continue to generate important research findings, few targeted educational efforts have been made to nurture effective police-researcher collaboration and integrate EBP into police practice. The current study evaluates a 16-month-long Applied Criminology and Data Management Course (ACDC), which aimed to train police executives and early-career researchers to work together, produce EBP research, and disseminate their findings. Survey and observational data assess participant progress on four key Kirkpatrick evaluation model metrics: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. ACDC participants demonstrated satisfaction with the program and knowledge of skills required for effective collaboration and research. Most notably, they demonstrated application of skills through applied research and dissemination of results. Participants proved committed to advancing EBP via trainings to police executives and community stakeholders, publications, presentations, promotions to various relevant positions, and secured grant funding. Overall, these preliminary results suggest that ACDC can serve as a successful and feasible model for advancing EBP.

Suspect, Officer, and Situational Dynamics Underlying Violent Resistance Against Police: A Critical Interpretative Synthesis

ABSTRACT Assaults against police officers pose a significant challenge to law enforcement safety, yet the factors driving such violence remain complex and underexplored. This critical interpretative synthesis (CIS) is the first literature review to examine violent resistance from an interpretative perspective. By reviewing 38 studies from 2000 to 2024, identified through various methods, we develop a theoretical framework to better understand and contextualize factors linked to assaults against officers. Results indicate that certain suspect, officer, and situational characteristics are linked to violent resistance, both independently and through their interactions. These interactions between predictors help explain inconsistencies across studies. Additionally, we note a lack of diversity in how risk and protective factors of violent resistance have been studied. We suggest areas for future research and offer recommendations to inform police practices and improve officer safety.

Implementing community policing practices to manage conflict resolution in Galeshewe, South Africa

Community policing has emerged as a vital instrument for combatting crime and enhancing public safety in South Africa. As a result, it has the capacity to go beyond traditional law enforcement functions as a mediator in disputes, fostering improved relationships between the police and the communities where they work. This paper analyses the implementation of community policing strategies by the South African police with the purpose of resolving conflicts. This study aims to address social crime prevention-related concerns through community policing methods in the Galeshewe police area within the Francis Baard policing regions of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, South Africa. The paper examines the tactics that community police employ to enforce the law, avoid social issues, and manage conflict resolution in the communities. A qualitative method and descriptive design were employed. Comprehensive document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and observations were employed as data collection strategies. An inductive reasoning model was used to analysis data. The findings of the study demonstrated that community policing plays an important role in optimizing problem mapping and it increases public knowledge of the importance of upholding security and order in the different police operations that support the community policing program.

‘We Don’t Have Any Honor Because We Are khwaja sira’: Police Violence and Discrimination Against the Khwaja Sira Community in Swat, Pakistan

Abstract This qualitative study examines police violence and discriminatory policing practices targeting the third gender community, known in Pakistan as khwaja sira. Employing a phenomenological analysis, we conducted a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with 45 khwaja sira in Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the interview transcripts: two distinct themes emerged regarding the lived experiences of khwaja sira in Swat, Pakistan: experiencing multiple forms of violence by police; and managing abuses of policing power. Findings shed light on the challenges khwaja sira face regarding police violence and misconduct, including neglect from law enforcement officers to register their cases, biased practices within police precincts, and discrimination associated with their engagement in sex work or their gender nonconformity. Findings underscore the need for comprehensive interventions aimed at addressing police violence experienced by the khwaja sira community.

Community Policing Practice in the Nigerian Police: Implications of Employee Burnout

Community Policing Practice in the Nigerian Police: Implications of Employee Burnout

Community policing practice in the Nigerian police: Implications of employee burnout

The Nigerian police force's implementation of community policing has coincided with increased criminal activities, exacerbated by factors like high youth unemployment, inadequate healthcare, malnutrition, poverty, banditry, and intercommunal conflicts. Against this backdrop, this aimed at assessing how burnout affects the implementation of community policing within the Nigerian police force. It specifically aimed to explore how three dimensions of burnout—emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, and depersonalization—influence officers' adherence to and practice of community policing principles. By examining these factors, the study sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the psychological well-being of police officers impacts their ability to effectively engage in community-oriented policing strategies. Participants were 369 police personnel, which consisted of 266 males and 94 females, with a mean age of 36.6 years. The study adopted the cross-sectional research design. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Community Policing Inventory were used as measures of burnout and community policing respectively. Three hypotheses were tested with the multiple linear regression. Results revealed that emotional exhaustion did not significantly predict the practice of community policing (β = -.087, t = -1.332, p = .184), accounting for 8.7% variability in the practice of community policing. Personal accomplishment did not significantly predict the practice of community policing (β = .113, t = 1.951, p = .052), accounting for 11.3% variability in the practice of community policing. Depersonalization significantly negatively predicts the practice of community policing (β = -.275, t = -4.425, p <.001), accounting for 27.5% variability in the practice of community policing. It was recommended that future studies investigate the mediating and moderating variables that can provide a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between burnout and community policing in the Nigerian setting.

O quarto ao lado: terror, intimidade e processos de Estado em meio a um conflito agrário.

In this paper, I turn to an agrarian conflict in which an episode of sexual violence happened. Thus, I pursue the State processes and the intimate relationships in which terror is articulated in the conflict course. In close dialogue with Michael Taussig and Veena Das's arguments, I discuss: a) the terror incommensurability produced in the midst of police and judicial practices; and b) the silence that allows life to go on after the traumatic event. To do so, I make use of notes and memories of what I experienced during the two years of monitoring the case, of an in-depth interview with a squatter community leader and of the analysis of the court records about the agrarian conflict and the sexual violence episode.

Advancing Police Practice in Bias Crime Identification: Introducing the Bias Crime Indicator Tool (BCIT)

Advancing Police Practice in Bias Crime Identification: Introducing the Bias Crime Indicator Tool (BCIT)

Telling the untold: First Nations people’s perceptions of policing in Broken Hill and Wilcannia

ABSTRACT This article examines the ways First Nations people perceive targeted policing practices in Broken Hill and Wilcannia, New South Wales. It focuses on First Nations viewpoints and perspectives to unveil the colonial legacies of the region, their infusion into contemporary policing practice, and the pressures those legacies exert on the community. The empirical material was generated through interviews with 19 First Nations community members, in collaboration with a First Nations advisory panel. By centring First Nations perceptions of policing, it contributes to critical colonial critiques and decolonising expertise of policing, focusing on subtle and perverse acts of policing in Broken Hill and Wilcannia, and how these are perceived by First Nations people on different structural, social and personal levels. The main argument is that instances of targeted policing are perpetrated against the collective community through methods of pressure and surveillance. This collective pressure specifically targets and alienates the First Nations community while maintaining a non-Indigenous social order. In doing so, police present a legitimate form of targeted policing that impacts community wellbeing in perverse and ongoing ways. This argument and approach enrich place-specific understandings of First Nations experiences of policing and unmask the dynamic aspects of policing that the community endures.

A world of Palantir – ontological politics in the Danish police’s POL-INTEL

ABSTRACT When Palantir Technologies customized the Gotham platform into POL-INTEL, a data integration and analysis platform purchased and used by the Danish police, it also enforced a new ontology that simultaneously shaped the police organization and policing practices. In this context, the concept of ontology should be understood in a twofold, albeit interconnected, way: it stands for its usual philosophical burden, but also refers to a centralized concept repository. In Computer Science, ontology refers to the basic concepts for how data is structured. Based on a series of interviews with Palantir engineers and police-officer users of POL-INTEL, this paper investigates what kind of politics, concepts, and bias in the form of data are inserted, processed and materialized in and by POL-INTEL’s ontology. We argue that POL-INTEL’s ontology is inherently political, as it is articulated by an assemblage of data, ideological positions, and economic concerns that are translated into the Danish context. POL-INTEL as a vector of platformization of police work also implies ideological choices with important consequences for the organizational life and accountability of law enforcement, establishing new distributions of skills between the platform and police officers.

An evaluation of Barnardo’s trauma-informed policing training

This paper presents an evaluation of Trauma-Informed (TI) training for police officers in the West Midlands Police from November 2022 to February 2023. The West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership has commissioned and delivered bespoke TI training since 2020, which aimed to deepen the understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma within the Police and, in turn, to create meaningful changes in everyday policing practice. Pre- and post-training surveys were conducted with 230 frontline officers and new recruits, as well as semi-structured interviews with 14 police officers and sergeants. Statistically significant improvements were found across all seven factors measured by the Trauma Aware Policing Attitudinal Survey (TAPAS). These findings indicate the efficacy of the training in improving police officers’ knowledge, responses, behaviours, self-efficacy, reactions to work, and personal and system-wide support for trauma-informed care. The qualitative results indicate a positive influence of the TI training on police practice overall. However, the quantitative data have limitations in drawing conclusions regarding long-term knowledge retention and the integration of trauma-informed practices, as well as the lack of robustness of the TAPAS tool. This highlights the necessity for further efforts to assess TI attitudes and providing TI training to police officers and senior management, promoting ongoing professional development and the wider implementation of trauma-informed approaches.

Police accountability and officer misconduct: moderation effects by officers’ gender and race for body-worn cameras and an early intervention system

PurposeMuch empirical work has examined body-worn cameras (BWCs), and there is a growing interest in early intervention systems (EISs) in policing. Whether the effects of these accountability mechanisms are stable by officer gender and race remains unknown – important assumptions of each program despite differences in misconduct levels and policing practices by subgroups of officers (i.e. male vs female officers, White vs Black and Hispanic officers).Design/methodology/approachThe current study uses data from a large Southwestern police department to examine the influence of BWCs and an EIS on alleged and sustained patrol officer misconduct between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020.FindingsIn line with expectations and the intended goal of these programs, the effects of BWCs and the EIS on officer misconduct were stable by officer gender and race.Originality/valueGiven the importance of addressing officer misconduct to build and maintain community trust and the rapid expansion of BWCs and EISs across the United States, it is vital that police departments consider the accountability programs they implement and the equity of these programs. The current study provides insight into this process in one agency and offers policy implications and directions for future research.

Algorithmic policing: Part 1. Tech startups, venture capital and law enforcement in America

This article examines the rise of algorithmic policing in the United States, focusing on predictive policing platforms and facial recognition technologies. Part 1 explores how companies like PredPol, Palantir and Clearview AI have developed data‐driven tools to predict and prevent crime and identify suspects. The article analyses the historical context, technological development and implementation of these systems by law enforcement agencies. It also discusses the concerns raised by critics, including issues of privacy, racial bias and the potential for reinforcing discriminatory policing practices. Through case studies and examples, the article illustrates how these technologies have impacted communities, particularly communities of colour. It examines the complex interplay between Silicon Valley startups, venture capital and law enforcement in shaping modern policing practices.

Front and Back Covers, Volume 40, Number 5. October 2024

Front and back cover caption, volume 40 issue 5ALGORITHMIC POLICING & AIThis image captures Roberto J. González's exploration of algorithmic policing in America in this issue. Cameras survey a stylized urban landscape, symbolizing the pervasive reach of artificial intelligence in modern law enforcement.González examines various technologies of surveillance: predictive policing platforms, facial recognition software and acoustic gunshot detection systems. Its algorithmic composition hints at the complex mathematical models underpinning these tools, which claim to forecast crime and identify potential offenders.Below, the cityscape appears as a mix of physical structures and data points, blurring the line between the tangible world and its digital representation. This visual metaphor represents the technologies that are reshaping our understanding of urban spaces, often reinforcing existing patterns of surveillance and control in marginalized communities.The ominous tone and starkness of the image echo the article's critical perspective on the unchecked expansion of algorithmic policing. The article raises questions about privacy, consent, and the potential for these systems to amplify biases and errors in law enforcement decisions.The human stories behind these technologies – from wrongful arrests to community distrust – are often obscured by promises of efficiency and safety. This reminds us of the need for anthropological scrutiny of these roboprocesses and their impact on social fabrics.The unseen digital infrastructure is increasingly shaping policing practices, reshaping the landscape of public safety and surveillance in America and beyond. This raises important questions about how venture capital, tech startups, and law enforcement agencies are transforming traditional notions of policing and civil liberties in the digital age.Back cover caption, volume 40 issue 5HANDS OF CHANGE: FARMER IDENTITYThis image of the weathered hands of a farmer, cradling rich soil, encapsulates the complex reality of modern European agriculture explored in Eimear Mc Loughlin's article. These hands, which have long symbolized the deep connection between farmers and the land they cultivate, now tell a more nuanced story of an identity in flux.According to Mc Loughlin, the traditional image of the farmer is vanishing because of new pressures that are becoming more intense. These hands, once primarily engaged in the tactile work of cultivating crops and tending to animals bred for food, now increasingly grapple with spreadsheets, regulatory paperwork and the invisible constraints of global markets. The soil they hold represents not just the promise of growth, but also the weight of environmental concerns, stringent regulations and societal expectations.Yet, this image also speaks to the enduring essence of farming that persists despite these challenges. It reminds us of the irreplaceable role farmers play in our food systems and national identities, even as their traditional image evolves. The rich soil suggests the potential for renewal and adaptation, mirroring Mc Loughlin's call for a reimagined agricultural future.As Europe's farmers protest and struggle with their changing identity, this image reminds us of what is at stake. It challenges us to consider how we can support a transition to sustainable farming that reflects the hands‐on work symbolized here while addressing pressing environmental and economic realities. In doing so, we might forge a path where the figure of the farmer does not disappear but evolves, maintaining that crucial connection to the land while navigating the complexities of modern agriculture.