Pub Date : 2022-04-30DOI: 10.1177/0032258X221089576
Sandra Krugly, Daniel Bjärsholm, A. Jansson, Arne Rosendal Hansen, O. Hansson, Kajsa Brehm, Angelica Datmo, Anna Hafsteinsson Östenberg, Jenny Vikman
Little is known about the physical and mental health among police students. Based on data on Swedish police students’ physical fitness (N = 1736) and mental health (N = 407), the results show that: (a) there are gender differences; (b) the physical fitness changes during police education; in general, the students get stronger but less flexible, and the aerobic endurance increases for women but decreases for men; and (c) students’ self-reported physical activity and mental health affect their perceived police ability differently in relation to gender. Consequently, this study questions if the Swedish police education is preparing the students adequately for their future profession.
{"title":"A retrospective study of physical fitness and mental health among police students in Sweden","authors":"Sandra Krugly, Daniel Bjärsholm, A. Jansson, Arne Rosendal Hansen, O. Hansson, Kajsa Brehm, Angelica Datmo, Anna Hafsteinsson Östenberg, Jenny Vikman","doi":"10.1177/0032258X221089576","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X221089576","url":null,"abstract":"Little is known about the physical and mental health among police students. Based on data on Swedish police students’ physical fitness (N = 1736) and mental health (N = 407), the results show that: (a) there are gender differences; (b) the physical fitness changes during police education; in general, the students get stronger but less flexible, and the aerobic endurance increases for women but decreases for men; and (c) students’ self-reported physical activity and mental health affect their perceived police ability differently in relation to gender. Consequently, this study questions if the Swedish police education is preparing the students adequately for their future profession.","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82520893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-25DOI: 10.1177/0032258X221087829
Jessica H. Phoenix, B. Francis
In England and Wales, police consider potential harm in missing person investigations using graded risk assessment. Using 4746 missing person reports made to one police force in 2015, we investigate the extent to which age, sex and police risk factors predict high-risk classifications and harmful case outcomes. We find age, sex and specific risk factors including out of character behaviour and suicide risk increased the likelihood of high-risk classifications, whilst other risk factors including physical/mental illness and drug/alcohol misuse increased the likelihood of harmful outcomes. We also find certain risk factors reduced the likelihood of high-risk classifications and harmful outcomes.
{"title":"Police risk assessment and case outcomes in missing person investigations","authors":"Jessica H. Phoenix, B. Francis","doi":"10.1177/0032258X221087829","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X221087829","url":null,"abstract":"In England and Wales, police consider potential harm in missing person investigations using graded risk assessment. Using 4746 missing person reports made to one police force in 2015, we investigate the extent to which age, sex and police risk factors predict high-risk classifications and harmful case outcomes. We find age, sex and specific risk factors including out of character behaviour and suicide risk increased the likelihood of high-risk classifications, whilst other risk factors including physical/mental illness and drug/alcohol misuse increased the likelihood of harmful outcomes. We also find certain risk factors reduced the likelihood of high-risk classifications and harmful outcomes.","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83402567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-22DOI: 10.1177/0032258X221087451
J. M. Van, Rui Sun, Sarah Britto
Failure of police departments to authentically engage community members in public safety efforts are often linked to the crime problem, racial injustice, police brutality, distrust between police and minority community members, and fear of crime (Dumas et al., 2021; Skogan, 2008), yet efforts at citizen engagement, mostly under the community policing philosophy, have taken various forms and yielded inconsistent results (Bradford et al., 2009; Gascón and Roussell, 2019; Lloyd and Foster, 2009; Lockey et al., 2019). As the United States reckons with a year of political unrest and widespread protests in the wake of the George Floyd murder, examining how police agencies communicate engagement with their constituencies takes on renewed importance. Southern California, an area with a long history of problematic police community relations and local efforts at community policing (Gascón and Roussell, 2019; Jones and Wiseman, 2001), offers one window to view this communication. This study uses police websites and budget documents in several Southern California cities to analyze the police department’s efforts to communicate with their constituencies. The history of demands for policing reform includes a common thread, the excessive use of force by police especially in minority communities that lead to a lack of trust from communities and the weakening of legitimacy for agencies. The President’s Task Force on
警察部门未能真正让社区成员参与公共安全工作，往往与犯罪问题、种族不公正、警察暴行、警察与少数族裔社区成员之间的不信任以及对犯罪的恐惧有关(Dumas et al.， 2021;Skogan, 2008)，然而，公民参与的努力，主要是在社区警务理念下，采取了各种形式，产生了不一致的结果(Bradford et al.， 2009;Gascón and Roussell, 2019;Lloyd and Foster, 2009;Lockey et al.， 2019)。在乔治•弗洛伊德(George Floyd)谋杀案之后，美国经历了一年的政治动荡和广泛的抗议活动，审视警察机构如何与他们的选民沟通，变得更加重要。南加州，一个长期存在问题的警察社区关系和当地社区警务努力的地区(Gascón和Roussell, 2019;Jones and Wiseman, 2001)提供了一个观察这种交流的窗口。本研究使用南加州几个城市的警察网站和预算文件来分析警察部门与他们的选区沟通的努力。要求警务改革的历史包括一个共同的线索，警察过度使用武力，特别是在少数民族社区，导致社区缺乏信任，削弱了机构的合法性。总统特别工作组
{"title":"Budgets and websites matter! An examination of police communication of community engagement in Southern California","authors":"J. M. Van, Rui Sun, Sarah Britto","doi":"10.1177/0032258X221087451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X221087451","url":null,"abstract":"Failure of police departments to authentically engage community members in public safety efforts are often linked to the crime problem, racial injustice, police brutality, distrust between police and minority community members, and fear of crime (Dumas et al., 2021; Skogan, 2008), yet efforts at citizen engagement, mostly under the community policing philosophy, have taken various forms and yielded inconsistent results (Bradford et al., 2009; Gascón and Roussell, 2019; Lloyd and Foster, 2009; Lockey et al., 2019). As the United States reckons with a year of political unrest and widespread protests in the wake of the George Floyd murder, examining how police agencies communicate engagement with their constituencies takes on renewed importance. Southern California, an area with a long history of problematic police community relations and local efforts at community policing (Gascón and Roussell, 2019; Jones and Wiseman, 2001), offers one window to view this communication. This study uses police websites and budget documents in several Southern California cities to analyze the police department’s efforts to communicate with their constituencies. The history of demands for policing reform includes a common thread, the excessive use of force by police especially in minority communities that lead to a lack of trust from communities and the weakening of legitimacy for agencies. The President’s Task Force on","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83288855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-20DOI: 10.1177/0032258X221085689
Meera Padhy, Lalnuntluangi Ralte, R. A. Padiri, K. Chelli
The cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between the domains of perceived social support (PSS), perceived control of internal states (PCOIS) and well-being (WB) among police personnel. One hundred twenty two police officers (106 males and 16 females) from the state of Odisha, India were selected using purposive sampling method and were required to fill up the perceived social support, perceived control of internal states and well-being questionnaires. The relationships among these variables were examined using Pearson product moment correlation. The impact of social support and perceived control of internal states on well-being was analysed by multiple hierarchical regression analysis. Significant positive relationships among all these variables were noted. The relationship between the social support from friends’ domain and well-being was not significant. In addition, well-being was predicted by both perceived social support and perceived control of internal states. The findings of this study can help in developing interventions which can enhance the well-being of police personnel by targeting their perceived social support and perceived control of internal states.
{"title":"Well-being of police personnel: Role of perceived social support and perceived control of internal states","authors":"Meera Padhy, Lalnuntluangi Ralte, R. A. Padiri, K. Chelli","doi":"10.1177/0032258X221085689","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X221085689","url":null,"abstract":"The cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between the domains of perceived social support (PSS), perceived control of internal states (PCOIS) and well-being (WB) among police personnel. One hundred twenty two police officers (106 males and 16 females) from the state of Odisha, India were selected using purposive sampling method and were required to fill up the perceived social support, perceived control of internal states and well-being questionnaires. The relationships among these variables were examined using Pearson product moment correlation. The impact of social support and perceived control of internal states on well-being was analysed by multiple hierarchical regression analysis. Significant positive relationships among all these variables were noted. The relationship between the social support from friends’ domain and well-being was not significant. In addition, well-being was predicted by both perceived social support and perceived control of internal states. The findings of this study can help in developing interventions which can enhance the well-being of police personnel by targeting their perceived social support and perceived control of internal states.","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89956822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-04DOI: 10.1177/0032258X221079021
YuChun Chen, Todd J Castleberry
Previous research indicates that law enforcement officers did not uphold optimal physical fitness. This study aimed to examine exercise motivations of incumbent officers. The EMI-2 was used to collect data. Kruskal–Wallis H tests and post-hoc Mann–Whitney U tests with Bonferroni-corrected p values were used to analyze the data. As a group, the officers were motivated to exercise for the positive health benefits. The results also indicated that building up strength/endurance and competition had influential impacts on their motivation to exercise. Police agencies may take these elements into consideration when planning and implementing a physical training program for the incumbent officers.
{"title":"Exercise motivations of law enforcement officers in Northeast Louisiana","authors":"YuChun Chen, Todd J Castleberry","doi":"10.1177/0032258X221079021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X221079021","url":null,"abstract":"Previous research indicates that law enforcement officers did not uphold optimal physical fitness. This study aimed to examine exercise motivations of incumbent officers. The EMI-2 was used to collect data. Kruskal–Wallis H tests and post-hoc Mann–Whitney U tests with Bonferroni-corrected p values were used to analyze the data. As a group, the officers were motivated to exercise for the positive health benefits. The results also indicated that building up strength/endurance and competition had influential impacts on their motivation to exercise. Police agencies may take these elements into consideration when planning and implementing a physical training program for the incumbent officers.","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91366014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-26DOI: 10.1177/0032258X221079019
S. Chainey, Patricio R. Estévez-Soto, Gastón Pezzuchi, Rodrigo Serrano–Berthet
In 2017, hot spot policing interventions were implemented in four cities in Argentina: La Plata, Morón, Santa Fe and Tres de Febrero. Each intervention was similarly designed, organized and implemented. Results differed between cities. La Plata experienced the largest decreases, including a significant 31% decrease in robbery (while controlling for geographic displacement), whereas in other cities, a mix of non-significant decreases and increases in robbery and theft were observed. No displacement was observed to assaults or vehicle crime. The differences in impact between cities were likely to be associated with differences in the project management of each intervention.
{"title":"An evaluation of a hot spot policing programme in four Argentinian cities","authors":"S. Chainey, Patricio R. Estévez-Soto, Gastón Pezzuchi, Rodrigo Serrano–Berthet","doi":"10.1177/0032258X221079019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X221079019","url":null,"abstract":"In 2017, hot spot policing interventions were implemented in four cities in Argentina: La Plata, Morón, Santa Fe and Tres de Febrero. Each intervention was similarly designed, organized and implemented. Results differed between cities. La Plata experienced the largest decreases, including a significant 31% decrease in robbery (while controlling for geographic displacement), whereas in other cities, a mix of non-significant decreases and increases in robbery and theft were observed. No displacement was observed to assaults or vehicle crime. The differences in impact between cities were likely to be associated with differences in the project management of each intervention.","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83993331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-01DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211039975
Noreen Tehrani
Police officers play an important role in protecting the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their role has posed a serious threat to their physical and psychological health and well-being. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression, PTSD and compassion fatigue in police officers and to identify the factors that predict COVID-19-related physical and mental well-being. As part of a regular health surveillance programme, 3863 police officers recorded their physical exposure to COVID-19 and the extent to which COVID-19 had affected their psychological well-being. The study provides suggestions on developing evidence-based well-being interventions for policing.
{"title":"The psychological impact of COVID-19 on police officers.","authors":"Noreen Tehrani","doi":"10.1177/0032258X211039975","DOIUrl":"10.1177/0032258X211039975","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Police officers play an important role in protecting the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their role has posed a serious threat to their physical and psychological health and well-being. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression, PTSD and compassion fatigue in police officers and to identify the factors that predict COVID-19-related physical and mental well-being. As part of a regular health surveillance programme, 3863 police officers recorded their physical exposure to COVID-19 and the extent to which COVID-19 had affected their psychological well-being. The study provides suggestions on developing evidence-based well-being interventions for policing.</p>","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8832131/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76517537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-03-01DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211044702
Geoff Newiss, Sarah Charman, Camille Ilett, Stephanie Bennett, Aram Ghaemmaghami, Paul Smith, Robert Inkpen
Drawing on survey and interview data collected in one police force area, this article considers the varied impacts on police well-being arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately one-third of police officers surveyed reported feeling less safe in their role during the pandemic, and nearly half suffered increased anxiety. The toll on well-being appears to be most acute for frontline officers and those with caring responsibilities, and is strongly associated with increases in workload. The task of 'repairing' well-being will require detailed and sensitive consideration involving genuine efforts to hear the voices of those who have endured this prolonged tour of duty.
{"title":"Taking the strain? Police well-being in the COVID-19 era.","authors":"Geoff Newiss, Sarah Charman, Camille Ilett, Stephanie Bennett, Aram Ghaemmaghami, Paul Smith, Robert Inkpen","doi":"10.1177/0032258X211044702","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X211044702","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drawing on survey and interview data collected in one police force area, this article considers the varied impacts on police well-being arising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately one-third of police officers surveyed reported feeling less safe in their role during the pandemic, and nearly half suffered increased anxiety. The toll on well-being appears to be most acute for frontline officers and those with caring responsibilities, and is strongly associated with increases in workload. The task of 'repairing' well-being will require detailed and sensitive consideration involving genuine efforts to hear the voices of those who have endured this prolonged tour of duty.</p>","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8919095/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40309920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-02-27DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211048416
Fay Sweeting, Terri Cole
Police sexual misconduct is an under-researched type of police corruption. Although rare, it has serious negative ramifications for both the victims and the reputation of the police. When officers join, there is an extended period of training during which potential warning signs of sexual misconduct may be displayed. This research explored how police trainers identify and deal with sexual misconduct in new recruits. Six focus groups across four police forces in the South of England were conducted – a total of 25 police training staff. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Sexually inappropriate language and sexual touching was witnessed during training, with both recruits and trainers as victims. Police trainers are confident in dealing with such incidents; however, more serious allegations did not result in disciplinary action. Victims and witnesses were reluctant to report incidents, and this may hinder the early identification of recruits who require more discipline or who are potentially unsuitable for police work.
{"title":"Sexual Misconduct in Police Recruits as identified by Police Trainers","authors":"Fay Sweeting, Terri Cole","doi":"10.1177/0032258X211048416","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X211048416","url":null,"abstract":"Police sexual misconduct is an under-researched type of police corruption. Although rare, it has serious negative ramifications for both the victims and the reputation of the police. When officers join, there is an extended period of training during which potential warning signs of sexual misconduct may be displayed. This research explored how police trainers identify and deal with sexual misconduct in new recruits. Six focus groups across four police forces in the South of England were conducted – a total of 25 police training staff. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Sexually inappropriate language and sexual touching was witnessed during training, with both recruits and trainers as victims. Police trainers are confident in dealing with such incidents; however, more serious allegations did not result in disciplinary action. Victims and witnesses were reluctant to report incidents, and this may hinder the early identification of recruits who require more discipline or who are potentially unsuitable for police work.","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86036171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-02-16DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211047795
I. Cummins
This paper examines the role of the police in mental health work. It explores whether the calls to ‘defund the police’ can be the basis for fundamental reforms of mental health services and the police role. The paper outlines the roots of the calls to ‘defund the police’ situating the perspective in the wider Black Lives Matter movement (BLM). The wider BLM movement seeks to overturn long standing racial and social injustices, including the disproportionate use of force against black citizens and racial biases within the Criminal Justice System. It goes further in that BLM calls for a shift in funding from policing towards an investment in welfare and community services. These calls are captured in the phrase ‘defund the police’. These calls have highlighted the police role in mental health, particularly, the police response to citizens in mental health crisis. The paper examines the police role in mental health work, highlighting the historic impact of policies of deinstutionalisation and more recently austerity and welfare retrenchment. In calling for this policy shift, campaigners have highlighted the need to significant investment in mental health services. The police role in mental health services increased because of the failings of community care (Cummins, 2020a). Police officers have increasingly become first responders in mental health crises. The paper, focusing on England and Wales, uses ‘defund the police’ perspective as a lens to examine long standing areas of concern. Police involvement in mental health emergencies is inevitably stigmatizing. There are also concerns from the police. This is an area of police demand that has grown of austerity and the wider retrenchment in public services. Police officers often feel that they lack the skills and knowledge required to undertake their role in mental health work. In addition, there is frustration generated by poor interprofessional working. Police officers on an organizational and individual level feel that they are often left ‘picking up the pieces’. There is a wide recognition that mental health services are failing to provide appropriate responses to those in crisis (Wessley, 2018). As well as being an issue of human rights and social justice, these failures place vulnerable people at increased risk. All aspects of police work involve contact with people experiencing mental health problems. People with mental health problems are first and foremost human beings who should be treated with dignity and respect. They are also citizens, family members, carers and work colleagues. Having acknowledged that core value perspective, if we accept that police officers will be involved in mental health work, we should seek to limit their role as far as is possible. The paper concludes that it is likely that there will be always be some form of police involvement in mental health–related work. However, there is a need to limit this as far as possible.
{"title":"‘Defunding the police’: A consideration of the implications for the police role in mental health work","authors":"I. Cummins","doi":"10.1177/0032258X211047795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X211047795","url":null,"abstract":"This paper examines the role of the police in mental health work. It explores whether the calls to ‘defund the police’ can be the basis for fundamental reforms of mental health services and the police role. The paper outlines the roots of the calls to ‘defund the police’ situating the perspective in the wider Black Lives Matter movement (BLM). The wider BLM movement seeks to overturn long standing racial and social injustices, including the disproportionate use of force against black citizens and racial biases within the Criminal Justice System. It goes further in that BLM calls for a shift in funding from policing towards an investment in welfare and community services. These calls are captured in the phrase ‘defund the police’. These calls have highlighted the police role in mental health, particularly, the police response to citizens in mental health crisis. The paper examines the police role in mental health work, highlighting the historic impact of policies of deinstutionalisation and more recently austerity and welfare retrenchment. In calling for this policy shift, campaigners have highlighted the need to significant investment in mental health services. The police role in mental health services increased because of the failings of community care (Cummins, 2020a). Police officers have increasingly become first responders in mental health crises. The paper, focusing on England and Wales, uses ‘defund the police’ perspective as a lens to examine long standing areas of concern. Police involvement in mental health emergencies is inevitably stigmatizing. There are also concerns from the police. This is an area of police demand that has grown of austerity and the wider retrenchment in public services. Police officers often feel that they lack the skills and knowledge required to undertake their role in mental health work. In addition, there is frustration generated by poor interprofessional working. Police officers on an organizational and individual level feel that they are often left ‘picking up the pieces’. There is a wide recognition that mental health services are failing to provide appropriate responses to those in crisis (Wessley, 2018). As well as being an issue of human rights and social justice, these failures place vulnerable people at increased risk. All aspects of police work involve contact with people experiencing mental health problems. People with mental health problems are first and foremost human beings who should be treated with dignity and respect. They are also citizens, family members, carers and work colleagues. Having acknowledged that core value perspective, if we accept that police officers will be involved in mental health work, we should seek to limit their role as far as is possible. The paper concludes that it is likely that there will be always be some form of police involvement in mental health–related work. However, there is a need to limit this as far as possible.","PeriodicalId":87373,"journal":{"name":"The police journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88174330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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