The credibility of internal/external mechanisms of police across two police forces

• In Event: Police officers’ attitudes and work experience: comparing countries

Abstract

Studying police officers’ attitudes is critical for understanding the dyadic relations between the police and their larger environment. In Europe, research on police behavior and/or police subculture has been less focuses on how officers perceive the legal framework and the democratic principles but also the concrete mechanism of police oversight. This presentation will address the way police officers from two different forces (national police and gendarmerie) perceive the relevance of ethics, and the credibility or legitimacy of both internal and external control. The determinants of their attitudes are explored (such as rank, time in the force, level of education, exposure to danger, poor health, being exposed to discrimination, and type of force, i.e. civilian versus military status force). Findings suggest that it may be a major challenge for democracies when police refute the value of norms and oversight mechanisms. Additionally, military status personnel are more inclined to adhere to those oversight norms, and so do officers less exposed to strain.

Author

• Sebastian Roche, Sciences-Po Grenoble / Université de Grenoble-Alpes