Blowing the Whistle on Police Violence: Gender, Ethnography and Ethics

• NCJ Number: 190259
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 2001 Pages: 523-535
• Author(s): Louise Westmarland
• Editor(s): Geoffrey Pearson
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: For related articles see NCJ-190252-258, and NCJ-190260

Annotation

This extensive ethnographic study highlighted a number of issues related to the witnessing of "illegal" police violence by researchers.

Abstract

In this study, two categories of dilemma facing ethnographers who may encounter violent acts are examined. First, the difficulty of actually identifying the phenomenon, differentiating legitimate force from violence. The second was what the fieldworker might do when violence was identified as having happened. These two points were examined in this study within the framework that acknowledged the effects of police occupational culture, the nature of group solidarity it fosters, and the hazards faced by whistleblowers. Throughout this study, it was argued that police ethnographers might anticipate they would see violent incidents and subsequently be placed in an ambiguous position leading to uncomfortable decisions about whether to jeopardize their access and trust relationship. In summation, this study raised a number of difficult ethical scenarios that did not have a coherent or uniform solution for ethnographers. It was suggested that the final decision could only be personal, based on the moral and ethical beliefs and feelings of the individual.