DMU, The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, The Emotion and Criminal Justice Cluster would like to welcome you to our next seminar:
Chris Alcott of the Community and Criminal Justice Division presents: 
Confidence and legitimacy in the Police Service and the need for emotionally intelligent practitioners.

Traditionally the Police Service has recruited all Police Officers via the probationary Constable gateway, with that specific practitioner role in mind. Prior to the 1980s this role appeared to focus primarily on knowledge and understanding of legislation, policy and practice, with the vital application element being provided by existing experienced practitioners in the work place.

In the light of a number of serious case reviews (Scarman 1981 and later MacPherson 1999) government supported pressure was applied to the Police Service to ensure that practitioners, when making critical decisions not only considered greater community engagement and the relevant social context, but also their own attitudes and behaviours. The impact of this initiative is contended. REF

Over recent years, in response to further serious case reviews (Pilkington (et al)) and a change in the expectations and demands of the public, there has been a desire to move away from transactional policing practice towards a more transformational approach. The growing eminence of the need to demonstrate legitimacy and confidence (Myhill and Quinton) along with a more realistic understanding of the social terrain calls out for a better consideration by practitioners of their own values and level of emotional intelligence (Hochschild).

It is argued that the effective application of policy, procedure and practice cannot effectively take place without an appreciation of the specific needs, history and mores of individuals and the community, along with the social context in which the scene is set. This requires staff with the values, emotional intelligence and motivation/direction to appreciate and act on this information.
It is our contention that in order for the Police Service to develop to meet its recognised future challenges, it`s recruitment process needs to capture and appropriately respond to the values and level of emotional intelligence of candidates.

– See more at: http://www.dmu.ac.uk/research/research-events/2016/june-2016/confidence-and-legitimacy-in-the-police-service-and-the-need-for-emotionally-intelligent-practitioners.aspx#sthash.1uwZdqGp.dpuf