NCJ Number
164459
Journal
Psychology, Crime & Law Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (1994) Pages: 143-149
Date Published
1994
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper describes a 5-year evaluation project by the London Metropolitan Police in which human awareness training was provided to two groups of police recruits (31 per group) who completed questionnaires at the end of initial training and again at 6 months and 12 months during their probationary period.
Abstract
The questionnaires included a social-evaluative anxiety questionnaire, a self-esteem questionnaire, and an interpersonal relations questionnaire. These questionnaires were supplemented by one specifically designed to assess attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors which training aimed to inculcate. The effectiveness of human awareness training was assessed based on questionnaire findings, observations of police behavior, interviews with the public who interacted with police officers, and complaint data. Human awareness training was worthwhile, although achievements in initial training dissipated somewhat over time. Police officer scores indicative of distress, avoidance, and fear of negative evaluation by others in social situations decreased progressively and significantly over the testing period. Most police officers became competent in dealing with people in the patrol setting, and the public's evaluation of police officer performance was generally favorable.