Author(s):
Bettina Franzke

Institution:
Fachhochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung NRW

Title:
Intercultural Learning Within the Police Force: Needs Versus Realities

Abstract:
Politics and society require an interculturally competent police force. However, until now, it has not been exactly clear, what intercultural competences are required in the police force or how culturally sensitive ways of doing things would be demonstrated in police work. Interviews with 26 police officers from different specialised divisions, sought to discover what the interviewees understood about intercultural skills. The results show that on patrol, intercultural competences are not often applied. This is because they can be contraindicated by the needs of the situation, which may include issues such as officer safety, the compulsion to prosecute, the urgency of the intervention, the principle of equal treatment or the uncooperative behavior of a coun-ter-party. On the other hand, there are more favorable links where it comes to criminal police division tasks and crime prevention. It is recommended that the dissemina-tion of intercultural competences in the context of education and training should be improved.

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