Exploration of individual and work-related impacts on police officers and police staff working in support or front-line roles during the UK's first COVID lockdown. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Jennifer; Fleming, Jenny
• Other Names: Hesketh Ian guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Police journal. Volume 95:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 50
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Policewomen -- COVID-19 -- stress -- police staff -- organisational support -- well-being; Police -- Periodicals; Police -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 363.205
• DOI: 10.1177/0032258X211052891
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-258X

Abstract

An online survey ( N = 2063) of women working either as police officers or non-sworn/warranted police staff addressed personal well-being and work-related factors during the first COVID lockdown in the United Kingdom from March to August 2020. Overall, 59% of all respondents reported being more stressed during the lockdown than they had been previously. A key factor in stress levels was the respondents' organisational support measured by a computed index of trust, communication, and support (TCS). Those respondents having a positive orientation towards TCS were less stressed than those whose orientation was more negative. Findings differentiated the experience of respondents typed as front-line police officers, front-line police staff, police officers serving in support functions and police staff in support functions. Innovative COVID-19 working arrangements are highlighted as beneficial new practices worth retaining.