Sexual harassment experienced by police staff serving in England, Wales and Scotland: A descriptive exploration of incidence, antecedents and harm

Abstract

An on-line survey (N=1776) was conducted with support staff to explore both the type and incidence of sexual harassment within the police working environment and the explanatory value of known antecedent factors. Uni-variate results indicated highest levels of sexual harassment were associated with what has been termed sexual 'banter', reported by three quarters of those surveyed, with a diminishing level of exposure to more serious types of harassment. Respondents reported adverse impacts whether sexual harassment experienced as a target or bystander. Multivariate analyses found statistically significant associations between perceived levels of organisational justice and confidence in the organisation's ability to deal with its occurrence and two types of sexual harassment. Having established a better understanding of salient risk factors the discussion identifies implications for organisational preventative interventions.

Exploration of individual and work-related impacts on police officers and police staff working in support or front-line roles during the UK’s first COVID lockdown

“…Due to a messaging error accompanying the PFEW survey which appeared to seek responses from women officers, only 18 policemen returned completed surveys. The number of returns from UNISON members is consistent with the Union's own survey returns (Brown et al, 2018;Unison, 2016). For the purpose of the present analysis, 437 women police officers and 1626 women police staff were selected from the total sample of 2844 (10 respondents were classified as other and six respondents declined to give their designation as staff or officer).…”

Staffing the force: police staff in England and Wales’ experiences of working through a COVID-19 lockdown

“…Reports and reviews such as those cited above have been supplemented by union wellbeing surveys and other documentation that provides information about police staff (Unison, 2003(Unison, , 2016. Police studies also add periodically to what we know about police staff (see e.g., Brown et al, 2018;McCarty & Skogan, 2013;Lumsden 2017). Other disciplines have looked specifically at 'civilian' or 'support' police staff (for example, managerial studies, Gwavuya, 2010;Dick & Metcalfe, 2001;Dick & Hyde, 2006).…”

Sexual Victimization of Women Police and Its Deleterious Impact on the Victims: A Thematic View

“…They also reported about their experiences in connection with adverse or hostile environments, sexism, skewed physical fitness assessments, double standards, boys club and lack of support & opportunity during their career. An online survey by Brown, Gouseti and Fife-Shaw on police staff serving in England, Wales and Scotland found that majority of harassment incidences (around 75 percent) were associated with sexual banter apart from exposure to severe types of harassment (Brown, Gouseti & Fife-Schaw, 2017). Many studies revealed the existence of varied forms of harassment in different professions, including law enforcement agencies.…”