Experiencing othering: Rethinking police relations with vulnerable groups

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

The relationship between vulnerable groups and law enforcement remains a critical issue within criminological research. This panel explores the lived experiences of marginalized communities—such as ethnic minorities, and sex workers—during interactions with police forces. This panel highlights key concerns such as racial profiling, excessive use of force, distrust in law enforcement, and the impact of institutional bias from the perspective of people in vulnerable contexts.
Findings reveal that members of vulnerable groups often perceive police interactions as discriminatory and stigmatizing, reinforcing existing social inequalities through processes of othering. Othering, as a mechanism of exclusion, shapes police perceptions and practices, leading to the systematic differentiation and dehumanization of certain communities. Additionally, fear of criminalization leads many individuals to avoid seeking police assistance, even in situations of victimization. While some jurisdictions have implemented community policing strategies and training programs to improve relationships, evidence suggests that systemic barriers continue to hinder progress.
This panel contributes to the broader criminological discourse by critically examining the intersection of vulnerability, power, and policing. It argues for policy reforms that prioritize procedural justice, cultural awareness training for officers, and mechanisms for community oversight to rebuild trust. The panel underscores the necessity of a victim-centered approach that acknowledges the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations in their encounters with law enforcement.
By fostering dialogue, this panel seeks similarities in lived experiences of different vulnerable populations in an effort to demonstrate the urgency of evidence-based strategies that promote more equitable policing practices.

Subtopic

• Topic 5: Social Control and Criminal Justice / Policing and Law enforcement (Policing WG)

Chair

• Pia Struyf, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Individual Presentations

• Between expectations and fear: The experiences of female sex workers with the Belgian and Dutch police - Pia Struyf, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Sofie De Kimpe, Associate Professor - VUB; Lucas Melgaço, Associate Professor -VUB

• Resisting “manufactured” vulnerability: Discretionary policing and migrant sex workers’ resistance strategies in Malta - Maartje van der Woude, Professor of Law and Society, Universiteit Leiden; Isotta Rossoni, PhD researcher, Universiteit Leiden

• Bridging the Gap: How Generations and Immigration Shape Trust in the Police Among Ethnic Minorities - Julie Van Hoorenbeeck, Dept. Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Sofie De Kimpe, Associate Professor - VUB

• Surveillance, Punishment, and Exclusion: The Policing of Sex Workers in Europe - Agata Dziuban, Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University, European Sex Work Research Network (ESWORN); Irena Ferčíková Konečná, European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA)