Cultural Modification and Cultural Alignment in Police Services: An Empirical Analysis of Select Variables

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-169
Author(s):  
A. Ramachandra Aryasri ◽  
Jitender ◽  
Gopal P. Mahapatra

Police forces, traditionally, were tacitly assumed to be rule-bound, legalistic, bureaucratic organisations, in which top-down policies prevailed through a quasi-militaristic rank hierarchy and strict discipline code ( Reiner,2016 ). The profile of the police organisations has been radically transforming, in view of the wider politico-economic and cultural context of re-emerging conflicts and social divisions in the recent past. Because of loose ends in the legal powers and processes, police officers at the operational level were characterised by the extent of discretion on how to behave or misbehave ( Newburn & Reiner, 2012 ). An empirical study was carried out in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh using Convenience sampling on 680 (340 respondents from police from different cadres and public each through separate structured questionnaires for each category of respondents), covering three variables, namely police beat, patrolling and responding to public calls. This article presents how Visakhapatnam Police could focus on the beat and patrolling, responding to public calls as part of aligning its working processes and bring in the cultural change not only in the Police Organisation as a whole, but also among the stakeholders. The Visakha Police is today known to be more citizen-friendly, tech-savvy and relatively fast in addressing and resolving issues.

1999 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Emlyn-Jones

The characters in Plato's Socratic Dialogues and the sociocultural beliefs and assumptions they present have a historical dramatic setting which ranges over the last quarter of the fifth century b.c.—the period of activity of the historical Socrates. That this context is to an extent fictional is undeniable; yet this leaves open the question what the dramatic interplay of (mostly) dead politicians, sophists, and other Socratic associates—not forgetting Socrates himself—signifies for the overall meaning and purpose of individual Dialogues. Are we to assume, with a recent study, that Plato is entirely concerned with his contemporary world and is, as it were, borrowing his characters from the fifth century, or does the fiction reveal something of his real involvement in the values and debates of the recent past? The aim of this paper is to argue that a detailed study of the characterization and dramatic structure of one particular Dialogue, Laches, strongly suggests that Plato is using a perceived tension between past and present to generate not only a philosophical argument but also a commentary on the cultural and political world of late fifth-century Athens and in particular Socrates’ position within it.


Author(s):  
Chien Min Chen ◽  
Hong Tau Lee ◽  
Sheu Hua Chen ◽  
Tsung Hsien Tsai

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions and satisfaction between police officers and citizens on Kinmen Island (of Taiwan), using an analytical framework that combines five primary dimensions and 25 corresponding determinants. Design/methodology/approach – It considers recent developments in the application of performance measures and management to public and, particularly, police services. It goes on to assess comparative rural police performance which suggests that the application of targets could ultimately serve to provide the overall satisfaction with police services. Findings – The findings of the study suggest that perceptions and satisfaction of both citizens and police staff may result in the success of the policing management, and that police managers have to satisfy their citizens with a high level of service quality based on different localities. Practical implications – From managerial perspectives, police managers should consider both the service quality and customer satisfaction constructs as determinants of behavioural intentions, based on the fact that satisfaction can be a strategic key to maintain long term relationship with citizens as it is found of significant impact on the intentional behaviour. Originality/value – This research adds empirical support to this vein of literature and has identified the five main dimensions and the 25 sub-dimensions as important constructs for police service quality.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain Soriano ◽  
Eric Huysecom

Ounjougou (Dogon Country, Mali) is now known for the discovery there of pottery dating to the first half of the 10th millennium cal BC, which is among the earliest evidence of the use of ceramics in Africa. While our understanding of early African ceramics is becoming well developed, certain other evidence associated with the first manifestations of the African Neolithic are still poorly understood, including notably the lithic industries. On the basis of technological and typological analyses of the lithic assemblage associated with the Ounjougou pottery, we will show that these materials also express profound behavioral changes within cultural groups of this period, and indeed they help clarify processes for the spread of ceramics. For these reasons lithics are extremely important for understanding this period of great cultural change and should not be neglected. Technological and typological data collected during the analysis have been used to propose an original taphonomic approach and to test in this way the coherence of the assemblage. Comparisons with Early Holocene industries in the Saharan zone (Temet, Tagalagal, Adrar Bous 10, etc.) provide new elements of consideration regarding the cultural context of the appearance of pottery, and enable us to propose a scenario for the adoption of technological innovations marking the beginning of the Holocene, from sub-Saharan West Africa toward the central Sahara. The lithic industries are seen as a valuable means of clarifying the cultural context and processes of the appearance and spread of pottery in this region from the first half of the 10th millennium cal BC to the middle of the 9th millennium cal BC.


2005 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Loveday

This article considers the current decision of the Home Secretary to scrap the 43 police forces and replace them with 12–15 regional strategic police forces. This follows on from the recent report of HMIC, entitled Closing the Gap, published in September 2005, which was to conclude that as currently constituted the police structure for England and Wales was no longer ‘fit for purpose’. Using the ability of police services to provide an effective response to NIM Level 2 crime as a yardstick, HMIC was to find that any force with fewer than 4,000 police officers would be unlikely to be able to provide an adequate response. One consequence of the report and the Home Secretary's response to it has been the request made to all police authorities and forces to present a business case to the Home Office by the end of 2005 identifying the future structure of policing in the region and the pattern of amalgamation they might favour. In the course of this exercise it was to be found that alternatives to amalgamation, collaboration and federation, had both been closed down by the Home Secretary, who has concluded that only the option of amalgamation was now acceptable to his department. Subsequently it was to be learned that a number of factors influencing HMIC's 2005 report obtained that had not been taken into account. These included the decision on the part of HMIC specifically not to include the written section on force collaboration within the final report. Nor, it was also to be discovered, had recognition been given within the report to the expectation that implementation was to be carried out in conjunction with comprehensive Workforce Modernisation. A leaked memorandum from ODPM in late 2005 that local government reform was now under active consideration was also to undermine the earlier assumption on the part of HMIC that no plans for local government reform were currently planned and that unilateral police reorganisation was therefore appropriate.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Gelmini

Over the last few decades a growing awareness of the role of firms in society has emerged and, consequently, a call for a different approach towards accounting and accountability. Among various proposals, Integrated Reporting (IR) represent the more recent and ambitious one, even if some critical matters have to be dealt with by companies involved in its implementation. In effect, some Authors have already highlighted that it is necessary to introduce a cultural change in order to develop a new approach with reference to the measurement and communication (Songini et al., 2015). In this sense, in recent years critical and interdisciplinary research has significantly challenged the predominantly technical and a-political view of business and accounting. This has led to growing consensus that the most valuable insights are gained from studying practices in the organizational and broader social settings in which they operate, i.e. their cultural context. On the basis of the above, Islam does represent a strongly important field of study for the cultural context into which IR could develop. In effect, in Islamic thought, it is believed that Adam, the progenitor of the human race and Islamic prophet-was appointed Trusteeship (khalifa) or guardian of the planet Earth; in addition, a concept unique to man is amana or trust (Rizk, 2014). Allah offers amana to the heavens, to the earth, to the mountains - to the rest of creation - who all refused; only mankind was foolish enough to accept it. A trust entails one who entrusts and a trustee. Qur’an is embodied with the principles of moderation, balance and conservation, which are the core of sustainable development and provide a framework for discernment, without which there would arguably be no limits to waste, extravagance or greed both individual as well as corporate. Further exploration does suggest that the accountant, and hence accounting, is actually given a very key role. The person that is described as accountant or Muhtasib in Islam is the one responsible for making sure that business is not harming the community. Tawheed (unity) stimulates the desiderata of an explicit public commitment to reasonable and comprehensible accounting – full and relevant disclosure – in the public interest, as such an explicit commitment becomes a charge in relation to which those formally regulating accounting can be held accountable. At the same time, Islam encourages humankind to experience lazkiyah (self-correction) through active participation in life, since only behaving ethically in the materialistic life (duniya) Muslims prove their worth to Allah (Hassan, 2016). The paper is mostly theoretical, yet it offers fruitful practical insights since only a truthful assessment of the cultural pattern, as such as Islam, can lead to a conscious approach towards sustainability. This paper offers insights for future research on the broad field of social and environmental issues, as well as Integrated Reporting, since it suggests to take always in account – when addressing issues and potentialities of non financial reporting – the cultural pattern.


Author(s):  
Lais Sá

Esta é uma abordagem psicoantropológica sobre os padrões pedagógicos gerados no contexto cultural do oriente antigo, com base na comparação intercultural e na teoria junguiana da cultura. O objetivo é criar uma referência teórica para a compreensão e a interpretação das concepções pedagógicas ancestrais da humanidade. Supõe-se também que esta base etnográfica possa ser útil à pesquisa de metodologias para a Educação Ambiental e a Ecologia Humana. No texto são abordadas as categorias prático-teóricas que fundamentam a filosofia da educação nesses antigos modelos culturais, tais como: o conceito de tradição, a noção de filosofia prática, de alquimia interior, a experiência estética, a abordagem ética da ecologia e a pedagogia das artes marciais da escola interna. As conclusões remetem a um passo subseqüente, apontando as mediações necessárias para que esses modelos possam contribuir para a construção de pedagogias da mudança cultural, neste momento crítico da sociedade contemporanea. Tal empreendimento é parte de um projeto de pesquisa-ação, onde se testa a eficácia dos princípios pedagógicos estudados, ao mesmo tempo em que se desenvolvem processos formativos das pessoas envolvidas na experiência. Desta forma, pretende-se promover uma reflexão prática sobre ecologia humana e mudança cultural. Abstract This is a psycho-anthropological approach of the pedagogic patterns engendered in the cultural context of the ancient orient. It is based upon intercultural comparison andjunguian theory of culture. The aim is Io offer a theoretical reference for the understanding and interpretation of human 's ancient pedagogic conceptions. It is also supposed that this ethnographic support can help the researches in the field of new methodologies for Ambiental Education and Human Ecology. In the text are presented and described some practical and theoretical categories that support education philosophy in these ancient models, such as: the concept of tradition, the notion of practical philosophy, that of inner alchemy, aesthetic experience, the ethical approach of ecology, and the pedagogy of inner martial arts. The conclusions point out to a further step consisting in the reflection about the needed mediations to the construction of new pedagogies for cultural change, inspired on these ancient patterns, in this critical moment of contemporary society. The field work is part of an action-research enterprise, in which it is tested the efficacy of the models studied, while developping formative processes of people involved in the experience. So it is furthered a practical reflections about human ecology and cultural change. Résumé Ils 'agit d'une approche psycho-anthropologique sur les modeles pédagogiques engendres dans le contexte culturel de l'ancien orient, basée dans une étude comparative interculturelle et dans la théorie junguienne de la culture. Le but de cette étude est de créer un point de référence théorique qui puisse servir à la compréhension et à l'interprétation des conceptions pédagogiques anciennes de l'humanité. A partir de cette base ethnographique il sera peut-être possible de soulever quelques principes méthodologiques pour l'Education Ambientale et l'Ecologie Humaine. Ici on approche les catégories pratiques et théoriques qui sont le fondement de la philosophie de l 'éducation dans ces modèles de la culture orientale ancienne. On se détient sur le concept de tradition, la notion de philosophie pratique, celle d'alchimie intérieure, expérience esthétique, l 'éthique de l'écologie et la pédagogie des arts martiaux d'école interne. Les conclusions présentent des réflexions qui portent à une nouvelle étape qui consistera dans la discussion sur les médiations nécessaires pour établir des pédagogies tournées vers le changement culturel, dam un moment de crise telle que subit la société contemporaine. Cette entreprise fait partie d'un projet de recherche-action où il est mis en pratique les principes pédagogiques étudiés et mesurée son efficacité. L 'experience permet aussi de développer des processus formatifs des personnes qu 'y participent. Cela peut promouvoir une réflexion pratique sur l'écologie humaine et le changement culturel. Resumen Éste es un enfoque psico-antropologi co de los modelos pedagógicos engendrados en el contexto cultural del antiguo oriente. Fundamentase en la comparación intercultural y en la teoría junguiana de la cultura. El objetivo es de criar una referencia teórica para la comprensión y interpretación de las concepciones pedagógicas ancestrales de la humanidad. Se supone además que esta base etnográfica sea de utilidad en las investigaciones acerca de nuevas metodologías para Educación A m bien tal y Ecología Humana. En el texto se presentan y se describen las siguientes categorías práctico-teóricas que fundamentan la filosofía de la educación en estos ancianos modelosculturales: el concepto de tradición, la noción de filosofía práctica, de alquimia interior, la experiencia estética, el enfoque ético de la ecología y la pedagogia de las artes marciales. Las conclusiones apuntan hacia una reflexión subsecuente acerca de las mediaciones necesarias para que estos modelos puedan inspirar la construcción de nuevas pedagogías para el cambio cultural, en este momento crítico de la sociedad contemporánea. El trabajo de campo esparte de una empresa de pesquisaacción en la cual se hace prueba de la eficacia de los principios pedagógicos estudiados, mientras que se desarrollan procesos formativos de las personas envolvidas en la experiencia. De este modo se desarrolla una reflexión práctica acerca de ecologia humana y cambio cultural.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley J. Bikos

PurposeThis study will provide a preliminary, general overview of Canadian police officers' perception of stigma toward mental illness in their workplace culture and its impacts.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a mixed methods approach with two nationwide datasets: a self-report survey (N = 727) and 116 semi-structured interviews with police officers from 31 police services. Results are grounded in theories of stigma, masculinities and organizational culture.FindingsResults indicate that most officers believe stigma toward mental illness in their workplace remains, despite senior management messaging and program implementation. Reporting mental illness was often seen as high risk, both personally and professionally. Policewomen, constables and those on leave reported statistically significant higher levels of perceived stigma and risk. Features of traditional masculinity were commonly reported, influencing the way individuals viewed themselves (self-stigma) and organizational response (structural stigma). Those with lived experience reported the highest levels of self and structural stigmatization, which often negatively impacted their recovery.Originality/valueThis study strengthens our understanding of how organizational culture and structure combine to contribute to the persistent presence of stigma in some Canadian police services (with implications for male-dominated occupations generally). Gender, rank, years of service and lived experience are additional areas of limited scholarship addressed by this study. The findings have important implications for effective program and policy evaluation and development.


Author(s):  
Graeme Dickson

Abstract This article examines how far special constables can act as the ‘bridge’ between police services and local communities, within the context of Scottish policing. I consider the literature around the core concepts of community policing, the condition of community policing Scotland, and the role that volunteer police officers can play in enhancing local policing. Then, I draw upon the findings from qualitative interviews and observations of special constables in one division of Police Scotland, to explore the nature of the special constabulary as a potential resource in community and local policing. Finally, I consider these findings in relation to the ongoing discussions of special constables’ contribution to community policing, and how policing organizations might seek to enhance that contribution. This article, I believe, provides a unique contribution to the currently small but emerging field of research within police volunteerism, and brings the perspective of Scottish special constables to these discussions which have been primarily Anglo-centric.


1992 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Bryett

The preparation of recruit police officers has become an issue in those countries whose police services have evolved from the British model. In Australia, a variety of arrangements exist. These include education and training centred around police academies with academically qualified civilian and police staff, some of whom are academically qualified and others who are not, depending on the nature of their role. These academies are invariably, and not surprisingly, controlled by police officers. At the other end of the scale, the Australian Federal Police now has prospective recruits, who are not yet employees, in many Australian universities undergoing undergraduate studies. The aim being to recruit graduates. The Queensland Police Service has opted for a middle-of-the-road part university, part academy, approach as a means to satisfying as many perceived requirements as possible.


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