NCJ Number
49071
Journal
British Journal of Sociology Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 119-137
Date Published
1977
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF PROFESSIONALIZATION AND THE RELATED INTRODUCTION OF UNIT BEAT POLICING ON THE DEFINITION OF URBAN POLICE WORK HELD BY BRITISH CONSTABLES AND SERGEANTS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE REPORT IS BASED ON DATA GATHERED DURING A 2-YEAR PERIOD OF COVERT PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION, DURING WHICH THE RESEARCHER SERVED AS A SUPERVISOR IN A POLICE SUBDIVISION OF ONE OF BRITAIN'S MAJOR CITIES. THE FINDINGS OF AN EARLIER STUDY OF THE 'OCCUPATIONAL CULTURE' OF URBAN POLICING IN BRITAIN ARE REEXAMINED IN LIGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONALISM AND THE INTRODUCTION OF UNIT BEAT POLICING. UNIT BEAT POLICING INVOLVES THE SECTIONING OF EACH POLICE SUDIVISION INTO HOME BEATS, WHICH ARE PATROLLED ON FOOT BY COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALISTS (HOME BEAT CONSTABLES) AND BY VEHICULAR PATROL OFFICERS. THE VALUES AND STRATEGIES OF CONTROL THAT DOMINATED THE WORK ATTITUDES OF CONSTABLES AND SERGEANTS IN THE EARLIER STUDY WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENED. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONALISM ARE CONTRARY TO MANY OF THE VALUES. AN EXPLANATION IS SOUGHT IN THE MANAGERIAL ORIENTATION OF THE BRITISH POLICE SERVICE'S PROFESSIONALIZATION CAMPAIGN AND IN CERTAIN FEATURES OF URBAN POLICING THAT PROMOTE RESISTANCE TO CHANGE AMONG PATROL OFFICERS. TWO DEFINITIONS OF PROFESSIONAL POLICING -- MANAGERIAL PROFESSIONALISM AND PRACTICAL PROFESSIONALISM -- ARE FOUND TO EXIST: THE LATTER IS CHARACTERIZED BY HEDONISTIC, PROTECTIVE, AND HIGHLY PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES AND VALUES. THE PROFESSIONALIZATION EFFORT AND THE INTRODUCTION OF UNIT BEAT POLICING HAVE WIDENED THE GAP BETWEEN MANAGERIAL AND WORK FORCE DEFINITIONS OF POLICING. (LKM)