Assessing the appetite for evidence based policing: A UK based study

Abstract

Although evidence-based policing (EBP) has emerged in Europe, Australasia and the Americas, its level of implementation has received little scrutiny. Using a questionnaire completed by 625 police staff employed by a major UK police force, this study examines how police employees both view and use evidence-based practice. The study found that although the term EBP was recognized widely, its use was less apparent. The findings specifically distinguished lower ranked officers from senior police officers, and discriminated between warranted (sworn) officers and non-warranted (unsworn) civilian staff. It showed that lower ranking officers (constables) were more likely to value experience over academic evidence and collaboration, whereas senior ranks were much more likely to embrace EBP principles. Further, civilian staff were less likely to view new ideas as a ‘fad’ and be more open to research experimentation and evaluation, albeit they had fewer internal avenues to pursue professional development. In summary, it is argued that to develop an environment in which EBP can thrive, explicit implementation plans that consider issues such as organizational culture, are helpful.

Inside the shadows: a survey of UK human source intelligence (HUMINT) practitioners, examining their considerations when handling a covert human intelligence source (CHIS)

“…Additionally, maintaining a culture of craft knowledge is at odds with the impetus towards an evidence-based policing model (Dresser, 2019), and there is a risk that informant handlers relying on their experience to make decisions could come in to conflict with colleagues and senior leaders who are increasingly educated in the benefits of an evidence-based approach (Palmer et al, 2019;Sherman, 2013). The drive towards evidence-based policing was partly prompted by a governmental desire for greater accountability from a public institution (Palmer et al, 2019;Sherman, 2013), and it could be argued that the covert nature of informant handling has insulated it from the incursions of an evidence-based culture (Billingsley, 2009). However, the ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry (2021) demonstrates that once covert policing crafts are coming under increasing public scrutiny, and it can be anticipated that there will be a growing expectation for senior leaders to legitimise their decisions on the grounds of an extant evidence-base (Sherman, 2013).…”

Taking an Evidence-Based Approach to Evidence-Based Policing Research

“…Cherney and colleagues (2018) explored the perceptions of senior Queensland police staff towards EBP; despite some promising findings, such as the majority of participants claiming they understood EBP (62%), a much smaller proportion reported implementing outcomes from research into practice (22%). The UK shows similar results, with limited use of research to inform initiatives, especially amongst front line officers (Palmer, Kirby and Phythian, 2019). In fact, Fleming and Wingrove (2017) identified a decline in eagerness following attendance at an EBP workshop, associated with a perceived lack of implementation support within the force.…”

Evidence-based policing for crime prevention in England and Wales: perception and use by new police recruits

“…This could be due to a number of factors ranging from the timing of the data collection to structure of the questionnaire, with some suggesting that police constables are suffering survey fatigue (Bevins 2019 ). Palmer et al ( 2019 ) received similar limited response rates when researching EBP in a single UK police force, whilst Clark et al ( 2021 ) points out that much academic research has a low response rate. Therefore, the results in this current study should be viewed as indicative and informative rather than representative of all students studying the PCDA or DHEP across England and Wales.…”

“…The current research indicates, however, that there are reasonable numbers of new constables who understand and apply EBP and as such should be encouraged and appropriately supported to apply this in practice. Palmer et al ( 2019 ) found that although those within policing were often familiar with the term EBP, the actual adoption of research informed practice across operational levels was somewhat limited. In addition, Mount and Mazerolle ( 2021 ) found in their research that for the majority of the first-year police constables, certain modules were just an element of their recruit training programme to be passed in order to complete their training and probation.…”

“…In addition, Palmer et al ( 2019 ) suggest that local policing experience was often more valued by those constables on the frontline rather than having the time to adopt research informed EBP. Indeed, tacit knowledge in policing appears highly prized in the police occupation (Hartley 2018 ).…”