A reflection on elaboration of a research project investigating Police bashing in Belgium (P010)

• In Event: Poster session

Abstract

Police bashing is defined by negative rhetoric on police profession mainly conveyed through media or political discourses (Gyergyak, 2019). Literature addressing this topic involves a variety of concepts: Ferguson effect (negative effect of police misconducts’ media exposure on their missions’ quality) (Schultz, 2019); nature (communication or representation), or type of media (television, press, social network) (Miethe, 2019); or media strategies used by police (Williams et al., 2015). The latter are more likely to communicate on operational aspects (information, results) rather than on routine activities or involving public engagement (Kim et al., 2017). Studies highlight media exposure has a moderate effect on public opinion. Repeated exposure to polarised mixed media tends to reduce confidence in police and reinforce negative representations rooted in prior experiences (Boivin et al., 2015; Surette, 2015). Few studies investigate police bashing and its impact on public opinion or on officers’ experience confronted with it. Our department is developing a research project based on three articulated methodological designs. First, semi-structured interviews (individual or focus group) will investigate police officers’ discourses to clarify conceptual contours of this phenomenon, its potential impact on their professional and private lives, and their management strategies. Additionally, a state of play of media communication strategies used by police services will determine the most and least effective strategies. Secondly, content analysis of media articles, political discourses, and social networks’ comments on media coverage on police will identify the type of discourse used (semantic and lexical aspects) and their polarisation. Finally, a survey among the general population establishing their representations, attitudes, and knowledge on police profession (missions, values, level of satisfaction) will be undertaken. This survey will include the effect of media communication by monitoring respondents' media content consumption habits. This project responds to a request formulated by the police chiefs to improve the police-citizen relationship.

Authors

• Emilie Telle, University of Mons

• Loïce Gandibleux, University of Mons

• Louise Bolle, University of Mons

• Audrey Vicenzutto, University of Mons