NCJ Number
89457
Journal
Political Quarterly Volume: 53 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1982) Pages: 165-180
Date Published
1982
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This British study examines policy implications based in research findings on the social origins of police officers, the police subculture, the previous experience of officers, police social background and promotion, the police personality, motives for becoming officers, and police social perspectives.
Abstract
Most commentators on recent changes in English policing have shown the increasing prevalence of an action perspective and a crimefighting focus. The general social outlook of police officers, largely because of the police culture and work organization, though possibly reinforced by initial attitudes, is pessimistic about social trends perceived as rooted in permissiveness and advocates increased control and punitive sanctions. The characteristic police culture and social outlook cannot be conclusively related to the personalities, social backgrounds, previous experience, and job motivations of recruits, although the ranks of the police of England and Wales do have a lack of representation from blacks and women. The social backgrounds of the police parallel the composition of the population at large, and the previous experience of recruits in the job market is limited. Studies thus far have yet to establish unequivocally the existence of a characteristic personality among police recruits. The persistence of the police subculture independent of the backgrounds and character of recruits suggests that change in police attitudes and behavior will be difficult, but tighter accountability is necessary to control flagrant abuses, and the composition of the force can be affected by encouraging the entry of better-educated recruits, members of ethnic minorities, and women. Twenty-one footnotes are provided.