NCJ Number
54620
Journal
Police Review Volume: 85 Dated: (22-29 DECEMBER, 1978) Pages: 1878-1884
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PART 2 IN A SERIES ON TYPES OF BRITISH POLICE OFFICERS PROFILES THE SOCIAL WORKER, THE PROFESSIONAL, AND THE FEDERATION ACTIVIST, AND DRAWS CONCLUSIONS ABOUT POLICE ATTITUDES.
Abstract
BASED ON A SURVEY OF THE BRITISH POLICE FORCE, THE TWO-PART SERIES PRESENTS CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATIVE OF SIX TYPES OF OFFICERS. (FOR PART 1, WHICH PROFILES THE BOBBY, THE UNIFORM CARRIER, AND THE NEW CENTURION, SEE NCJ-55353). THE CASE STUDIES COMBINE DIRECT QUOTES WITH NARRATIVE TO PORTRAY OFFICERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE ROLE, JOB-RELATED ATTITUDES AND MOTIVATION, AND VIEWS ON POLICE UNIONISM. THE SOCIAL WORKER IS TYPIFIED BY THE OFFICER WHO WANTS TO PLAY A HELPING ROLE AND WHO IS SYMPATHETIC TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING CRIMINALS. THIS OFFICER TENDS TO SEE UNIONISM AS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF HIS JOB. THE PROFESSIONAL IS THE 'WHIZ KID' WHO RISES QUICKLY THROUGH THE RANKS; SEES THE POLICE FORCE AS A MULTIFUNCTIONAL HIERARCHY OF DEDICATED, TRAINED MEN; THINKS THAT AUTHORITY MUST BE CONCENTRATED AT THE TOP OF THE ORGANIZATION; AND VIEWS UNIONISM AS CONTRARY TO PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE FORCE. A RARITY ON THE BRITISH FORCE, THE FEDERATION ACTIVIST IS LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT BEFORE ENTERING THE FORCE. MOST ACTIVISTS COMBINE DEDICATION TO UNIONISM WITH REACTIONARY VIEWS ON POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE DIFFERENCES AMONG RANKS AND INDIVIDUALS, MOST OF THE OFFICERS SURVEYED PREFERRED THE EXISTING FEDERATION STRUCTURE OF POLICE REPRESENTATION TO A TRADE UNION OR A SINGLE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION. MOST OFFICERS JOINED THE FORCE BECAUSE THEY WERE INTERESTED IN POLICE WORK NOT BECAUSE OF THE INSTRUMENTAL ATTRACTIONS OF THE JOB (SECURITY, PAY, ETC.). A HARD CORE OF DISSATISFIED OFFICERS, CONSTITUTING ABOUT A THIRD OF THE FORCE, WERE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS, WITH ASPECTS OF THEIR WORK (E.G., PUBLIC HOSTILITY), AND OR WITH WORK CONDITIONS (E.G., SHIFT ASSIGNMENTS). POLICE WORK WAS SEEN AS A PROFESSION BY 74 PERCENT OF THE OFFICERS SURVEYED. MOST OFFICERS VIEWED THEIR ROLE AS ONE INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT GENERAL PUBLIC SERVICE. (LKM)