NCJ Number: 186563
Title: Attitudes of People From Minority Ethnic Communities Towards a Career in the Police Service
Author(s): Vanessa Stone; Rachel Tuffin
Date Published: November 2000
Annotation: This British study identified the main factors that influenced
the attitudes of minority individuals' toward a career in the
police service, with attention to how these factors might
influence police recruitment strategies.
Abstract: The study, which was conducted between January and May 2000,
involved 32 focus groups that consisted of 290 people aged 18-30
from various minority ethnic communities. The researchers who
facilitated the focus group discussion were also from minority
ethnic groups. The research identified a set of core themes that
were common to all the minority ethnic groups involved:
Bangladeshi, black African, black Caribbean, Chinese,
Greek/Greek Cypriot, Pakistani, Indian, and Turkish/Turkish
Cypriot. The participants had a number of reservations about the
police based on personal experiences, but also held images of
police presented in the media. They were concerned about racism
among police and a culture that seemed to exclude them, both from
the job and in the community. Respondents perceived that police
had neither the knowledge, sensitivity, or desire to understand
minority cultures different from the majority culture. Police
culture itself was believed to be at the root of many problems.
Respondents, however, did not want to generalize their negative
opinions of police to all police officers, and they reported many
positive experiences with police. Lack of information was
identified as a major problem in considering police careers.
Recruitment strategies should provide face-to-face information on
the following: support for recruits, how racism is addressed,
length and content of police officer training, and dangers faced
by officers and how they are equipped and trained to deal with
these. 31 references
Main Term(s): Minority police recruitment
Index Term(s): Foreign police; Minorities; Minority employment; Minority police; Police-minority relations; Public Opinion of the Police
Publication Number: ISBN 1-84082-563-4
Sponsoring Agency: Great Britain Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit
Corporate Author: Great Britain Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit
Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit
Page Count: 81
Format: Book (Softbound)
Type: Report (Study/Research)
Language: English
Country: United Kingdom
Note: Police Research Series Paper 136
To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=186563
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