Transforming police culture and effectiveness may be harder than appointing a new chief

Transforming police culture and effectiveness may be harder than appointing a new chief

The incoming Victoria Police commissioner has four decades' experience and a reputation for positive reform. But new research from RMIT shows unhelpful police cultures and service delivery can be harder to overcome than by simply appointing a new leader.

PhD candidate Saskia Penn

"One of the themes that emerged from my research was the lack of political will to change, especially after so many royal commissions and inquiries. Reports are published, but nothing happens.

"There’s also apathy from the general public. The community feels like there’s no point demanding more accountability when it has become so elusive.

"We’ve previously seen Victoria Police bring in police from other jurisdictions to try and influence culture.

"Some of the cases I looked at in my research show that even when a new person heads a squad or organisation, they are undermined by a negative culture that continues to exist.

"Having stronger independent oversight bodies and more robust police accountability would be a really good place to start."

PhD candidate Saskia Penn is a sessional tutor in Criminology and Justice Studies in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University. She used royal commission and inquiry reports spanning almost 140 years to explore the role of police culture in the ongoing cycle of corruption, inquiry, and reform. She will be conferred at the RMIT doctoral degrees graduation ceremony on Wednesday 14 May.

***

General media enquiries: RMIT Communications, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au  

Share

Related News

aboriginal flag float-start torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information