Tara Fenwick, Richard Dockrell & Bonnie SladeProPEL, University of Stirling

RURAL POLICINGUnderstanding Police Knowledge and Practice in Rural Communities

the contextGeographic barriers distance, mountains, weather, seaIsolationExtreme variations in geographic and socio-cultural regionsMandatory transfer policy

Identify unique challenges of policing practice and knowledge in rural ScotlandExplore present responses to these challenges (skills, practices, resources, leadership)Suggest implications for work arrangements and leadership to support professional learningthe aims

what we did Qualitative research study with 34 participants:11 interviews, 6 focus groupsface-to-face, skype, telephone31 men, 3 womenChief Constable (1), Deputy Chief Constable (1), Chief Superintendent (1), Superintendent (1), Chief Inspector (2), Inspector (10), Sergeant (3), Constable (14), Probationer (1)Almost 400 years combined experience across all 8 Area Commands of Northern

Interview QuestionsNature of rural policing most important aspects of policing in Northern the things that have the greatest impact?differences between rural communities in Northern and how do these differences impact on policing?

Nature of criminality and challenges of police work in rural areasthe pattern and nature of crime impactful police initiatives to reduce and prevent crime the most difficult challenges to policing in rural areas

Management in rural policingrecruitment and training management style, supervision and leadershiplevel of autonomy in managing police serviceschallenges for managing and supervising rural police work best approaches to training and management development for rural police work

Rural policing as community engagementthe role of policing a rural environment - strict law enforcer, mediator and social service providerthe relationship between the police and community in this area the style of policing in Northern Constabularycommunity engagement and influence relationship with the communities building trust and confidence the most important social and economic changes being experienced by rural communitiesRelationship between the police service and other community agencies the forms of policing that have the greatest impact on the community and best addresses community problems?

Rural policing towards the futureDevelopments over the next four or five years and how the role of rural policing might change

Interview Questions

community variancesnot one but many ruralitiesdistinct communities with different ways of working with policemust learn immediate cultural adaptationmust learn in a fishbowl

There is a delusion that its going to be some sort of Hamish McBeth lifestyle, youre going to be living in a wee village with your Scottie dog, youre going to be out on the push bike round the village saying hello to the baker and the minister, but the reality is well its not the reality at all.

primary role = mediatorlegitimacy in community balanced with accountability to police standardson call 24/7importance of responding to the mundanepersonal safety

you have to learn how to use your tongue and always know that theres going to be another day community negotiations

playing the long game in everyday momentsgauge the community trust, trust, trusteducate the community about police roleinter-professional work bottom-up [inter-operability] working out boundaries, roles

You can get support from the coast guard and from the military we have used that in the past. Well there is a lot of informality to it, but again it goes back to relationship building, but there are formal processes.learning the long lasting fix

being in or of the communityconstant visibilityno hiding place, no down timeon/off duty blurredfamily is implicated in dutysimultaneous outsider / insiderand just when youre settled

One of the strengths for us, and because of the geography it cant be any other way, is that our officers still live and work within their local community .. we are embedded within the communities across the force area

inventive knowings

strategic work-arounds to stretch resources and solve problems

Its covering a 12 foot room with an 8 foot carpet

Strategies to stretch resourcessplitting self/stopping timedeputize othersreframe situationsymbolic material gestureswhat works

Community variancesCommunity negotiationsLearning the lasting fixBeing in or of the communityThe themesThere isnt just one policing style, a small rural police force, within it there are significant differences in policing style and policing approaches

What is new or surprising in these findings? What could the public be made more aware of? What practices could be more encouraged and supported? What are implications for assessment and reporting of police activity?

Questions for you to consider

Tara*Tara*Tara*Tara*Bonnie*Bonnie*Bonnie*BonnieLearning what are the skills that they must learn?They have to adapt often without modelling learning by the seat of their pantsEnlarged scope of policing activityFishbowl no hiding place

*Richard (first of three)

I think the problem is that we do a lot of the stuff, we go to things we shouldnt go to as police. Its that last stop. There are too many things that we go to that just shouldnt even come near us in the first place, but if youre in single manned station, its like this. it gives the impression that youre looking out for their interest and it builds confidence. Ive always believed that if you use that type of approach, when you do have a serious assault down the pub, or you do have a big rammy, and everyone shuts up and doesnt say, and all of a sudden doesnt know who it is. Theres a couple of people, if youve, you know, used that type of policing technique in the previous years and months, youve got every reason to say to them, listen you know this is important, now this is a serious thing. And you get, members of the community to talk to you for reporting stuff.

*Richard (two of three) add quote?

More importantly if youre dealing in certain places, you know, in the Western Isles, its normally you and your colleague and if you dont do it in the right manner, you know, it all kicks off. Then youre going to be in a position where youve got no back upYou can gauge the community at the right time and thats a skill that, you know. You do learn and you do it pick up, and that is probably one of the most significant differences between rural policing and city centre policing

You learn that there's times that you win by walking away I think as managers it's, it, it's instilling in young officers, one that, sometimes it's OK to step back,

*Richard (three of three)You cannot control the visibility, and the times in which you perform as cop for purposes of being visible. Social sciences have written much about what this does to people Also practicalities of relocation costs*Tara*Tara*Tara*Tara*