'Getting a battering': The perceived impact of demand and capacity imbalance within the Police Service of England and Wales: A qualitative review. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elliott-Davies, M; Donnelly, J; Boag-Munroe, F; Van Mechelen, D
• Is Part Of: Police journal. Volume 89:Number 2(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 93
• Page End: 116
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Police -- demand -- capacity -- performance -- welfare; Police -- Periodicals; Police -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 363.205
• DOI: 10.1177/0032258X16642234
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-258X

Abstract

Since 2010, the number of officers in the Police Service of England and Wales (PSEW) has fallen by 12% (Home Office, 2015). Although there has been much public debate over the impact of these reductions (Barrett, 2014; Blanchard, 2014; May, 2015; Shaw, 2015; White, 2015), such arguments have mostly lacked robust supporting evidence. This study aims to help inform future debate by providing qualitative evidence via semi-structured focus groups with serving police officers. Semi-inductive thematic analysis revealed a dynamic set of elements, perceived by officers as both affecting and being affected by the PSEW's demand and capacity balance.