NCJ Number
82613
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1981) Pages: 27-33
Date Published
1981
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the results and implications of findings from a survey of 357 Scottish police sergeants who were asked to identify major problems they faced in their work.
Abstract
Managerial problems include personnel problems (lack of personnel, lack of trained personnel, inexperience of existing personnel, and lack of motivation of senior constables), deployment of policewomen in routine police work, and the increased volume of paperwork. Increased specialization has caused several problems relating to cooperation, communication, and the loss of promising officers from the uniformed branch. In relations with senior management, sergeants see themselves as operating with too rigid a structure staffed mainly by incompetent leaders, and they perceive themselves as a buffer between this incompetent leadership and younger, less experienced personnel. In addition, sergeants experience problems with public perception of the police, as well as other agencies which appear unsympathetic to the problems of police work. These problems have several implications for sergeants' training. Any effective training program must address itself to the problems faced by the trainee. However, this information is lacking. Much more research is needed to compile data about the various police personnel. Until this is accomplished, management performance will depend on the intuitive skills of those appointed, and courses will not be based on any systematic knowledge of the job skills required. Three references are included.