The complexity of police decisions: A collaborative study on police decision-making in Belgium. (11th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feys, Yinthe; Van Thienen, Bart; Van den Bulck, Stijn; Van Poucke, Koen; Torreele, Rienert; Van Damme, Anjuli; De Sterck, Maria; Michiels, Sylvie; Muyshondt, Peter; Verhage, Antoinette
• Is Part Of: Policing. Volume 16:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 405
• Page End: 426
• Publication Date: 2022-04-11
• Subjects: Police -- Periodicals; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1093/police/paac030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-4512

Abstract

Abstract: Street-level police officers are regularly confronted with complex situations and often have to make split-second decisions. Despite the importance of these decisions for procedural justice and police legitimacy, we know little about the factors that impact Belgian police officers' decision-making. This article explores this topic by means of semi-structured interviews ( n = 46) in the Belgian local police. We conclude that there is a variety of factors that play a role. These factors can be divided into four groups: characteristics of the police officer, characteristics of the civilian, organizational characteristics, and situational characteristics. The most influential factors are police officers' professional experience, laws and regulations, police officers' personality, one's colleagues and supervisors, and whether or not the civilian is aggressive and known by the police.