Evaluating Policing Culture Change: Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial in England and Wales

• In Event: Area XII. Diversity and Inclusion - Policing

Abstract

This article presents the development and implementation of the College of Policing’s Leading Inclusive Teams (LIT) programme. The LIT programme is an integrated set of four interventions designed to address sexism and racism within policing by leveraging a behavioural science approach. This article outlines the development of the coordinated interventions, which include: an experiential training course (realistic scenarios for supervisors to practice, demonstrate and receive constructive feedback), reflective forum sessions (structured facilitated monthly sessions for supervisors to continue to learn and safely share experiences), the Pulse Check (short, frequent surveys administered to police officers and staff to systematically feedback their experience of police culture to supervisors), and communications tactics (emails, letters and a core narrative built into all products to motivate supervisors to collectively address sexism and racism). The LIT pilot is being run in three of the 43 police forces across England and Wales for six months using a cluster randomised controlled trial. We report preliminary findings and insights gained on the practical implementation of the LIT programme at the conclusion of the pilot. The results will offer valuable implications for the broader application of behavioural science interventions to address and mitigate sexism and racism within law enforcement organisations.

Authors

• Katharine A. Boyd, University of Exeter

• Esther Flanagan, College of Policing

• Julia Wire, College of Policing

• Alexa Reed, College of Policing

• Sarah Colover, College of Policing