Changing Cultural Orientations within Mixed Economy Police Custody Settings: Findings from Phase 2 of the 'Good' Police Custody Study

• In Event: Changing Styles of Provision in Frontline Police Roles in England

Abstract

There has been much debate about how and whether police cultures impact on police practices. However, existing discussion has tended to overlook the significance of the cultural orientations of those working within police custody. The often emotionally charged nature of police custody means that the experiences of those detained are likely to be both formative and transformative. As such, police custody acts as an important point at which understandings of police legitimacy may be both built and undermined, making the cultural orientations of staff working within the field particularly significant. Drawing on the findings of an ESRC-funded empirical study conducted across four police custody suites in England, this paper considers the extent to which the cultural characteristics of officers and staff working within contemporary police custody suites both align and depart from traditional understandings of police culture. Evidence from the research suggests that while cultural similarities exist between custody workers and traditional conceptions of police culture, the nature of the work and working conditions mean that police custody workers likely operate a distinct ‘working personality’ in many respects. In particular, through a pervasive awareness of risk, their degree of emotional intelligence, resilience of character and valuing of partnership work.

Authors

• Lindsey Jade Rice, University of Sheffield

• Layla Skinns, University of Sheffield, UK