Internal sexual harassment among police personnel: Insights from a Birmingham, UK cross-sectional survey

Magsi, Lali and Ariel, Barak (2024) Internal sexual harassment among police personnel: Insights from a Birmingham, UK cross-sectional survey. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 18. ISSN 1752-4520

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Abstract

Internal sexual harassment by and between police officers is understudied. We report on a perversive, damaging, and underreported phenomenon through an anonymous survey in Birmingham, UK. Overall, internal sexual harassment affects one in every five employees, with 8.3% of males and 43% of females victimized, particularly in small police units. More than two-thirds of officers who experience physical sexual harassment and half who experience non-physical sexual harassment are serial victims (three or more), indicating that some staff members are routinely targeted by their peers—especially female officers. Victims reported long-term adverse effects, including stress, anxiety, isolation, and anger, and a quarter considered leaving the organization. One in ten observe internal sexual harassment; however, bystanders refrain from reporting incidents due to the perception that such conduct constitutes banter or the desire to protect the harasser’s reputation. In light of the responses, policy implications are discussed.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: 10.1093/police/paae049
Dates:
Date
Event
13 March 2024
Accepted
20 April 2024
Published Online
Subjects: CAH00 - multidisciplinary > CAH00-00 - multidisciplinary > CAH00-00-00 - multidisciplinary
CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-01 - sociology, social policy and anthropology > CAH15-01-01 - social sciences (non-specific)
CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-01 - sociology, social policy and anthropology > CAH15-01-02 - sociology
CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-01 - sociology, social policy and anthropology > CAH15-01-03 - social policy
Divisions: Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Law, Social and Criminal Justice
Depositing User: Lali Magsi
Date Deposited: 27 Jun 2024 17:13
Last Modified: 27 Jun 2024 17:13
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15578

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