Dilemmas and Decision Making in Policing

by Emma Spooner, Bob Cooper

Overview

Explores how policing students and police officers might apply theory to tackle dilemmas demonstrated through true to life scenarios.

Relevant for those undertaking the Professional Policing degree, Apprenticeships or the Degree Holder Entry Programme, as well as their academic and work-based educators, it examines the complexities faced on a daily basis by frontline officers. 

A range of fictional realistic case studies are presented in order to highlight contemporary challenges in the modern policing landscape. These are unpicked through discussion and reflective questions, exploring how decisions are made based on theoretical understanding and practical considerations in context. Key themes within these scenarios include procedural justice, legitimacy, organisational culture, prioritisation of workload, objectivity and neutrality, human rights and values. The book provides students and their educators with the opportunities to discuss policing dilemmas and decision-making in a safe space.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781041055112
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/31/2025
Series:	Dilemmas and Decision Making
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Emma Spooner is a lecturer at the University of Sunderland delivering work-based learning programmes to practitioners involved in investigative practice and policing. She draws on 21 years of policing experience as a front-line practitioner working across the spectrum of volume and priority crime, serious and complex crime and major crime investigation to help to de-mystify the research process and contextualise it into daily working practices. Helping students to embrace research and understand its application to professional practice and workplace development lies at the heart of her teaching.

Bob Cooper was a detective for 25 years. During that time he worked as a mentor to his colleagues and delivered numerous training events both to internal and external parties around aspects of investigative practice including decision making. He has a passion for understanding investigative decision making and has used this to underpin discussions with frontline colleagues to help them to develop and maintain standards within the workplace.

Table of Contents

Introduction Section 1 - Policing by Consent: Decision Making and Public Accountability Chapter 1 Legitimacy and control: Stop and search Chapter 2 The role of the police: Policing protests and demonstrations Section 2 – Managing Risk and Safeguarding: Complex Decision Making Chapter 3 Identifying and managing risk: Stalking and harassment Chapter 4 Prosecuting or safeguarding: Juveniles involved in criminality Section 3 - Mindset, Choices and Priorities: Investigative Decision Making Chapter 5 Achieving best evidence: Assault of Elderly Male Chapter 6 Getting off to the right start: Responding to sexual assault Chapter 7 Prioritising Workloads: Investigation Planning Conclusion Index References