Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Body-worn cameras: determining the democratic habitus of policing

Body-worn cameras: determining the democratic habitus of policing This study advances our knowledge about the effectiveness of body-worn cameras (BWCs) through exploring the perceptions of English police officers in three principal areas: positive perceptions, negative perceptions and evidence-focussed perceptions. In doing so, the purpose of this paper is to shed new light on the democratising process in the habitus of policing.Design/methodology/approachThis study presents a novel data set that evaluates the introduction of BWC to police officers in the East Midlands area of England. The authors conducted an extensive survey to explore the perceptions of 162 police officers about the BWCs. The authors examined the empirical data using Stata within the theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu concerning the concept of habitus.FindingsThe authors have found that most police officers perceive that BWCs have a positive impact on policing practices and evidence collection. The positive perceptions and evidence-focussed perceptions increase the importance of BWCs; however, there are also negative perceptions regarding effective policing, administrative functionality and establishing a better relationship with the community. The authors argued that all three areas: positive perceptions, negative perceptions and evidence-focussed perceptions play a stimulating role to democratise the habitus of policing. On the other hand, BWCs do not guarantee the consolidation of democratic principles in the habitus of policing because of the authority of police to decide when, where and how to use BWCs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to the perceptions of 162 police officers in East Midlands before they actually started using it. A future study to analyse their real-life experiences after using the BWCs may help us to compare their perceptions before using it with real-life experiences after BWCs are used. In addition, a comparative approach between countries in future research will help to explain the role of technological applications in different social geographies and legal systems.Originality/valueThis study offers new insights about the perceptions of police on BWCs before they started using them. The authors introduce the democratic habitus of policing as an innovative concept and explored power dynamics in the habitus of policing through BWCs. The findings provide a strong empirical contribution to determine the conditions of democratic habitus of policing. In doing so, this study develops our theoretical knowledge about the habitus concept in sociology by employing BWCs in policing activities. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Safer Communities Emerald Publishing

Body-worn cameras: determining the democratic habitus of policing

Cayli, Baris; Hargreaves, Charlotte; Hodgson, Philip
Safer Communities , Volume 17 (4): 11 – Oct 11, 2018
Download PDF
11 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/body-worn-cameras-determining-the-democratic-habitus-of-policing-Dj16auCCYJ
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1757-8043
DOI
10.1108/sc-03-2018-0008
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This study advances our knowledge about the effectiveness of body-worn cameras (BWCs) through exploring the perceptions of English police officers in three principal areas: positive perceptions, negative perceptions and evidence-focussed perceptions. In doing so, the purpose of this paper is to shed new light on the democratising process in the habitus of policing.Design/methodology/approachThis study presents a novel data set that evaluates the introduction of BWC to police officers in the East Midlands area of England. The authors conducted an extensive survey to explore the perceptions of 162 police officers about the BWCs. The authors examined the empirical data using Stata within the theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu concerning the concept of habitus.FindingsThe authors have found that most police officers perceive that BWCs have a positive impact on policing practices and evidence collection. The positive perceptions and evidence-focussed perceptions increase the importance of BWCs; however, there are also negative perceptions regarding effective policing, administrative functionality and establishing a better relationship with the community. The authors argued that all three areas: positive perceptions, negative perceptions and evidence-focussed perceptions play a stimulating role to democratise the habitus of policing. On the other hand, BWCs do not guarantee the consolidation of democratic principles in the habitus of policing because of the authority of police to decide when, where and how to use BWCs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to the perceptions of 162 police officers in East Midlands before they actually started using it. A future study to analyse their real-life experiences after using the BWCs may help us to compare their perceptions before using it with real-life experiences after BWCs are used. In addition, a comparative approach between countries in future research will help to explain the role of technological applications in different social geographies and legal systems.Originality/valueThis study offers new insights about the perceptions of police on BWCs before they started using them. The authors introduce the democratic habitus of policing as an innovative concept and explored power dynamics in the habitus of policing through BWCs. The findings provide a strong empirical contribution to determine the conditions of democratic habitus of policing. In doing so, this study develops our theoretical knowledge about the habitus concept in sociology by employing BWCs in policing activities.

Journal

Safer Communities – Emerald Publishing

Published: Oct 11, 2018

Keywords: Perceptions; Body-worn camera (BWC); Democratic habitus of policing; Evidence collection; Police–community relations; Safer communities

References

  • The effect of police body-worn cameras on use of force and citizens’ complaints against the police: a randomized controlled trial
    Ariel, B.; William, F.; Sutherland, A.
  • The deterrence spectrum: explaining why police body-worn cameras ‘work’ or ‘backfire’ in aggressive police–public encounters
    Ariel, B.; Sutherland, A.; Henstock, D.; Young, J.; Sosinsk, G.
  • Black minority ethnic communities and levels of satisfaction with policing: findings from a study in the north of England
    Barrett, G.A.; Fletcher, S.M.; Patel, T.G.
  • The rise and risks of police body-worn cameras in Canada
    Bud, T.A.
  • Improving accessibility and accountability – neighbourhood policing and the policing pledge
    Bullock, K.
  • Body-worn cameras for police accountability: opportunities and risks
    Coudert, F.; Butin, D.; Le Matayer, D.
  • Public deliberations, discursive participation and citizen engagement: a review of the empirical literature
    Delli Carpini, M.X.; Cook, F.L.; Jacobs, L.R.
  • When cameras are rolling: privacy implications of body-mounted cameras on police
    Freund, K.
  • Chapter four: considering police body worn cameras
  • Lights, camera, action: the age of body cameras in law enforcement and. the effects of implementing body camera programs in rural communities
    Lawrence, M.
  • Debate introduction: the privacy and surveillance implications of police body cameras
    Lippert, R.K.; Newell, B.C.
  • The Essex body worn video trial the impact of body worn video on criminal justice outcomes of domestic abuse incidents
    Owens, C.; Mann, D.; McKenna, R.
  • The mythical properties of police body-worn cameras: a solution in the search of a problem
    Palmer, D.
  • Public Deliberation in an age of direct citizen participation
    Roberts, N.
  • Police on Camera
    Sandhu, A.; Haggerty, D.K.
  • Eyes are not cameras: the importance of integrating perceptual distortions, misinformation, and false memories into the police body camera debate
    Scott, W.P.
  • Lights, camera, redaction… police body-worn cameras: autonomy, discretion and accountability
    Taylor, E.
  • Expanding the scope of evidence-based policing
    Telep, C.W.
  • Moral panics and body cameras
    Wasserman, M.H.
  • Exploring the potential for body-worn cameras to reduce violence in police–citizen encounters
    White, M.D.; Gaub, J.E.; Todak, N.