Stress at Work: The Beliefs and Experiences of Police Superintendents

Abstract

Stress and stress-related illness are recognised as an occupational health hazard. There is an increasing number of police officers reporting mental illness as a result of stress at work. This represents a challenge for occupational health nurses working within the police and more importantly for police forces themselves. Previous research indicated that management style, and lack of consultation, communication and support were all causes of stress to police officers. The aim of this research is to describe the issues surrounding stress within a police force from the perspective of police superintendents.

A small-scale qualitative study of police superintendents using semi-structured interviews was undertaken. The accuracy of transcriptions, themes extracted and the development of meaning statements were validated by the participants and expert academic validation (see Appendix 1). Several organisational issues relating to the causes of stress were described. Analysis of data taken from these interviews demonstrated acceptance or tolerance of management practices likely to cause stress. In particular participants also felt able to make judgments about the authenticity of felt stress expressed by subordinates. The participants also expressed a desire for their subordinates to have trust and confidence in them. The paradox of wishing to be trusted while also reserving the right to make valued judgments about authenticity of an individual's stress-related illness goes to the heart of police forces' management of stress at work.

Several recommendations are made as to how police forces might address the problems of stress. In particular there is a need for an education initiative targeted at police managers as to how best to recognise and manage situations in which occupational stress is a factor.