Author(s):
Thomas Naplava und Stefan Kersting

Institution:
Hochschule für Polizei und öffentliche Verwaltung NRW

Title:
Police Officer´s Sense of Insecurity While on Patrol

Abstract:
In modern states, the police serve to maintain public order and safety. This requires police officers who act out of a sense of personal safety and who are confident in their actions. A lack of confidence among police officers is therefore not only problematic for the officers themselves, but also poses a risk in operational situations. Against this background, this article examines the experience of unsafety among police officers on patrol duty. The results of a survey show that only a small minority of the police officers surveyed feel unsafe whilst on duty. The experience of insecurity is primarily linked to the frequency of physical attacks in the patrol area and the officer’s own ability to defend against such attacks. General conclusions are drawn from the results.

S. 57-68