Police culture

Police Culture Number 8 powerpoint (Definition)The knowledge, attitudes, expectations, behaviours and rituals that exist amongst police, or which more broadly, characterize a police force. Police Culture affects: how police see themselves and their role as police how they see the world around them, how they police (how policing is performed). Differences exist within and between police cultures. Police officers, as individuals, will not all equally adopt or adhere to the dominant police culture. Police culture cannot be divorced from the social, political, economic, legal and organizational context of policing. Police cultures can change.

Police Culture: Characteristics Sense of Mission: the thin blue line’ A crucial, dangerous but thankless Job ,Not Just a Job, but a way of life0 Policing thought of as protecting the weak from the strong (not at all political, relating to power within society). o ‘Us versus them’ mentality evident Law enforcers and law abiders versus law breakers Action Orientated: ‘Real Policing’ Emphasis on ‘real policing as that which occurs in the public sphere and which involves dangerous or potentially dangerous situations and confrontations. ?(ie. responding to reports of rime, raids, shoot outs, car pursuits and so on).

Greatest status attached to Homicide Squads and Tactical Response Units. Cynicism and Pragmatism Required to obey law, yet see law as limiting and naive Must go beyond the law, to do their Job and get results. Favour expedience over due process These characteristics of police culture have been related to various negative behaviours: Unlawful detentiono- The improper use of force0- Breaches of proper interview processes – Corruptiono- Dismissal of some crimes/victimso- Commission of some offences Isolation and Solidarity Feel different from other people based on work and work-related xperiences.

Sense of isolation intensified by problems socializing with non-police due to others reactions, difficulties turning off, shift work. Closest bonds forged with other police Very loyal to, and protective of, other officers MasculinistDominance of masculinist perspectives and practices. Reiner has described police culture as an ‘old – Ofashioned world of machismo’. ‘Real policing’ associated with confrontation, physical strength, danger Male-dominated composition of police forces has contributed to this. Racism Widely documented evidence of suspicion, hostility and rejudice in police dealings with racial and ethnic minorities.

Evidenced in well- known instances (ie. Rodney King) through to everyday policing practices. Once again partly attributable to historical composition of police forces. Also relates to their role acting on behalf of states to administer racially- Obased laws and policies (segregation, removal of indigenous children). 7. Conservatismo Social and politically conservative. Emphasis upon maintaining the status quo. Once again, partly a consequence of historical composition and role of police Approaches to policing and the community Number 9 Traditional Policing- (as developed with rise of modern police forces).

Community Policing (developed over past 30, largely in response to concerns raised over the methods and outcomes ot traditional policing. ) Traditional Policing: Police seen as separate from the community ,Role of the police is to respond to crime. ,Police effectiveness is measured by changes in crime rates and arrest rates. Concerned primarily with the policing of public sphere, rather than private sphere. Use of force is viewed as legitimate and necessary to Opreservation of order – militarization of police over past 40 y ears with rise of law and order.

Community Policing The development of community policing was based upon recognition that a lack of familiarity and respect between police and specific communities sometimes resulted in negative and repressive policing practices being used, and the fostering of mutual suspicion and antagonism between police and communities. Young people? gays and lesbians, indigenous people, ethnic and racial minorities recognized as particularly affected. What is Community Policing? No universally accepted definition of community policing.

As an approach to policing, it can best be described as onsisting of a broad range of strategies designed to improve policing by connecting police more closely to local communities and supporting relationships. Includes programs such as: 0 Neighbourhood Watch 0 Crime Stoppers00 Blue-light Discos School Education Programs Development of specific community policing units The appointment of Liaison Officers (such as: YLOs /0MLOs ) and committees involving police and community members . Formalised relationships with other community agencies0(for example, sexual assault and domestic violence services, ambulance services, welfare service).

Reform of procedures for dealing with some types of ffences – SOCIT (Secual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams Increased police presence, visibility and availability (for example, police on bicycles, shop fronts) Use of media to involve public in policing and crime prevention Police organising and hosting activities and programs – particularly for young people (such as the Ropes Program) Police learning and demonstrating the ‘art of negotiation’ with difficult groups Police taking a more gentle/balanced approach to policing Community Policing Compared to the traditional approach to policing, community policing Aims to be more pro-active and pre-emptive. More concerned with peacekeeping and conflict resolution than crime fighting0 Based on complexities of local context and on building relationships Envisages police as part of the community and as needing to be responsive and answerable to it.