Police liaison officers: Do they work?

• In Event: Policing and sex crimes

Abstract

Police liaison officers (PLO) are seen as an important form of service enhancement focused on building stronger, more supportive relationships between marginalised communities and police. Police liaison programs have come to dominate police service enhancement approaches as the preferred way to improve relations with communities that have had, and continue to have, problematic interactions with police (such as sex workers and LGBTIQ+ communities). While the PLO model dominates, we have limited research on whether these forms of police service enhancement do in fact enhance the service these communities receive from police. This paper overviews the results of a research project conducted in partnership with a local sex worker organisation that focused on police liaison officers involved with the support of sex workers. It considers the challenges and barriers of using these approaches with these communities, and how the PLO model could be adapted to address some of these concerns and makes recommendations.

Author

• Larissa Sandy, University of Nottingham