Internal sexual harassment among police personnel: Insights from a Birmingham, UK cross-sectional survey

• In Event: Organizational Dynamics of Police Misconduct

Abstract

Our research explores the frequency of internal sexual harassment amongst police officers, community officers, special constables and police staff in West Midlands Police’s Birmingham Local Policing Area. We report on a perversive, damaging, and underreported phenomenon through an anonymous online survey distributed to all 2,137 employees (response rate = 19.5%). Our findings show that internal sexual harassment affects one in every five employees, with 8.3% of males and 43% of females victimized. One in ten witness internal sexual harassment; however, bystanders refrain from reporting incidents due to the perception that such conduct constitutes banter or the desire to protect the harasser’s reputation. Furthermore, victims reported long-term adverse effects, including stress, anxiety, isolation, and frustration, and a quarter considered leaving the organisation. Our research highlights significant policy implications including enhanced training, restorative justice conferencing for low level incidents, confidential complaints channels, protecting victims during grievances and a ‘Call It Out’ campaign to deter sexual harassment via peer shaming. The prevailing culture that tolerates harassment and the ‘blue code of silence’ can lead to psychological and job-related issues among employees, affecting their performance and trust in the force. Failure to address sexual harassment could harm the force’s reputation, employee morale, and recruitment.

Authors

• Bilal Magsi, Birmingham City University

• Barak Ariel, University of Cambridge