Explaining Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Chinese Police Officers

Policing can be stressful, especially during public crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic. Using survey data from 600 police officers in a large city in West China, this study examines the prevalence of police stress increase during the pandemic’s peak month, compared pre-pandemic, and assesses a range of personal and work-related risk and protective factors of police stress. We found that Chinese officers suffered widespread, increased levels of stress during the peak pandemic month. Sources of police stress primarily came from changes in workloads and fear of contracting COVID-19. Perceived effectiveness of agency protection of officers against the COVID-19 risk, sufficient amount of sleep, and increased family time significantly reduced stress. These results bear important research and policy implications.

Evaluation of Potential Cryptocurrency Development Ability in Terrorist Financing

Terrorist financing is the economic basis of terrorist activities and the lifeline of terrorist organizations. In recent years, terrorist organizations have gradually come to use cryptocurrency to finance their activities based on traditional ways of raising funds. The anonymity of cryptocurrency is attractive to terrorist organizations, but its use remains at a low level. To explore the future development ability of cryptocurrency in terrorist financing, we study its internal characteristics and development status, as well as the supervisory systems of international organizations. This study hopes to enhance our understanding of the potential risks of cryptocurrency and serve as a reference for the fight against terrorist financing in the international community.

Police Treatment of the Public in Police Stations: Evidence from Zaria, Nigeria

The police occupy a very important position in the entire criminal justice system in Nigeria. The nature of police relationship with the people and the manner in which the public were handled at the station and on the street daily within the community affects the way the people perceive them and the level of cooperation they get from the people in curbing crime in the society. The study took place in Zaria, Kaduna state, Northern Nigeria. A study population was the police in Zaria. Three police stations (Zaria City, Sabon Gari, and Samaru police stations) were purposively selected reflecting the socio-cultural and demographic backgrounds of Zaria residence and population. The Divisional Police officers and police officers in-charge of crime were interviewed. The police crime and incidence records were examined while the general conduct and social atmosphere of the police and police stations were observed. Using in-depth interview, observational method, and police records, it was discovered that the socio-economic status of suspects affected how they were treated by the police in the police stations studied. Also, the environment suspect lives affected how they were treated too by the police. It was recommended that the police make the rule of law their guide in the handling of suspects in the police stations irrespective of socio-demographic variable or area of habitation of the suspects. Police brutality and violations of citizen’s rights should be checked by senior police officers, while community-policing style should be implemented across communities in Nigeria.

Exploring Young Drivers’ Perceptions of Procedurally Just Policing

The procedural justice approach to policing may be an effective method of reducing young driver noncompliance with traffic laws. We undertook a qualitative study in two Australian states (Queensland and Victoria) to explore how procedural justice operates when police interact with young drivers. Metropolitan and regional focus groups were conducted (n = 31, 45% male, 17–25 years), and transcripts coded against the four procedural justice elements: (a) neutrality, (b) respect, (c) voice, and (d) trust. Young drivers did not perceive neutral treatment; they felt targeted due to their provisional licence plate, their gender (male), and vehicle type. Despite this, young drivers reported their interactions with police to be respectful, they were allowed to present their point of view (voice), and that police officers and agencies could be trusted. This has implications for how the procedural justice framework is conceptualized and operationalized, for it to be an effective tool for policing young drivers.