Stress in Policing : Sources, consequences and interventions

Stress in policing remains a serious concern for individual officers, their families, their organizations and society at large. As an editor of the Psychological and Behavioural Aspects of Risk series, Ronald J. Burke brings together the latest research findings and intervention strategies, shown to be effective, by an international group of experts.

The contributors comprise of a group of high profile researchers and writers who are experts in their respective fields. This edited collection addresses such issues as:

• The increased risk of international terrorism
• Racial profiling
• Police Culture
• Police integrity
• Police suicide
• Inadequate police training

The work of police officers exposes them to sources of stress that increase several risks in terms of their psychological and physical health, their family relationships, physical injuries, emotional trauma, ambiguity about their roles in society. Shift work, and undercover work add additional burdens to officers and their families. Police work also places risks on the communities in which officers serve in terms of officers being inadequately trained to deal with mentally ill citizens.