Gender within a specialist police department – an examination of the cultural dynamics of a firearms unit Debbie Cain The thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Professional Doctorate of Criminal Justice Studies of the University of Portsmouth November 2011 Abstract This thesis examines the cultural dynamics within a specialist policing department with a particular focus on the issue of gender. It explores the experiences of a sample group of police officers working within the firearms unit of one metropolitan police force. Culture, the history of policing, specialist departments and the introduction of women are considered in order to gain an in depth understanding of the organisation. Previous research into police culture suggests masculine values remain intensely dominant, particularly within the firearms arena, ultimately creating an environment, which outwardly appears unattractive to women. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with twenty-one police officers including eleven male and ten female officers from Constable to Inspector rank. The research focused on the pre-joining experiences of the officers involved and also their personal experiences of life on the firearms unit. The study identified that the issues within the firearms unit appear not to be about gender: there was little evidence to suggest that officers within the firearms unit were treated differently or unfairly due to their gender. What was apparent was the presence of in-group/out-group distinctions, with an overwhelming desire from both genders to be accepted and to „fit-in‟. This has implications with regards to the research concerning occupational cultures, including police culture in particular. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration .................................................................................................................................. 6 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ 7 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 10 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter one - Organisational culture .......................................................................................... 16 Group Membership ........................................................................................................................... 23 Occupational Choice ......................................................................................................................... 25 Police culture .................................................................................................................................... 27 Definitions ......................................................................................................................................... 27 How Culture develops ....................................................................................................................... 28 Characteristics of police culture ....................................................................................................... 30 How police culture manifests itself................................................................................................... 39 Cultural change ................................................................................................................................. 42 Women in the police ......................................................................................................................... 45 Chapter two - Policing Organisation ............................................................................................ 50 The formation of the British Police ................................................................................................... 50 The Introduction of women into the service .................................................................................... 52 The formation of the 43 Forces of England and Wales .................................................................... 54 Resistance towards women .............................................................................................................. 55 Evolution of the British Bobby .......................................................................................................... 56 Legislative changes ........................................................................................................................... 57 Female Officers ................................................................................................................................. 60 3 Chapter three - The emergence of Specialist Police Departments ................................................ 64 Women in specialist units ................................................................................................................. 70 Controversial past of specialist departments ................................................................................... 75 Women in specialist units in the police force subject of this research ............................................ 77 The Operations Department ............................................................................................................. 78 Chapter four - Methodology ....................................................................................................... 83 Insider/Outsider ................................................................................................................................ 85 Case study ......................................................................................................................................... 89 Qualitative-v-Quantitative research methods .................................................................................. 91 Sample group .................................................................................................................................... 92 Semi-structured interviews ............................................................................................................... 94 Chapter five – Results I: pre-joining and joining the firearms unit .............................................. 102 Application Process ......................................................................................................................... 103 Training ........................................................................................................................................... 105 Fitness ............................................................................................................................................. 115 Motivations for joining.................................................................................................................... 118 Chapter Six – Results II: reality of life in the firearms unit .......................................................... 124 The role of humour ......................................................................................................................... 124 The role of gender ........................................................................................................................... 128 The role of stress ............................................................................................................................. 135 The role of structural change .......................................................................................................... 137 Chapter seven - Analysis ........................................................................................................... 143 Elitism .............................................................................................................................................. 143 Group identity ................................................................................................................................. 149 Gender ............................................................................................................................................ 156 Chapter eight - Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 163 4 Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 170 Appendix A: Timeline – History of British Police ............................................................................. 171 Appendix B: The 43 Police forces of England and Wales ................................................................ 173 Appendix C: Total number of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO’S) in England & Wales ........... 174 Appendix D: Interview Schedule ..................................................................................................... 176 Appendix E: Interview Schedule – Training Staff ............................................................................ 177 References ............................................................................................................................... 178 5 Declaration Whilst registered as a candidate for the above degree, I have not been registered for any other research award. The results