'One Person's Evidence Is Another Person's Nonsense': Why Police Organizations Resist Evidence-Based Practices. (25th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kalyal, Hina
• Is Part Of: Policing. Volume 14:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 1151
• Page End: 1165
• Publication Date: 2019-01-25
• Subjects: Police -- Periodicals; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1093/police/pay106
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-4512

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the noted importance of evidence-based policing (EBP) strategies, police organizations have been slow to adopt them. The present study aims to identify internal and external organizational factors that lead to resistance towards EBP. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 38 executive level police officers and members of police research organizations across Canada. Results reveal that resistance towards EBP is mainly due to organizational factors that arise from within the organization as well as external factors that are political in nature. Although the findings would be helpful for police organizations to reduce resistance to EBP, they must be interpreted with caution given the limited sample size preventing the generalization of results.