Stress in Spanish police force depending on occupational rank, sex, age and work-shift.

BACKGROUND: In the police force, some variables such as occupational rank, sex, age and work-shift are associated with stress in workers. The aim of this paper was to determine possible differences in the perception of occupational stress at work depending on rank, sex, age and work-shift of police agents in the Community of Madrid, Spain. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 municipalities of the Community of Madrid. A total number of 565 police agents participated. The ranks of the police agents were: constable, corporal, sergeant and police chief. Occupational stress (psychosocial risk factors at work) was assessed with the DECORE Questionnaire. RESULTS: All police agents perceived psychosocial risk factors adversely; especially agents of lesser rank perceived less control, fewer rewards and scarce support. There were significant differences in the perception of insufficient rewards between constables and other categories; and between constables and corporals in the perception of insufficient organisational support. No significant differences were found in the perception of psychosocial risk factors in relation to the rest of variables. CONCLUSIONS: The police rank should be taken into account for the development of preventive measures to reduce stress.

La participación comunitaria en asuntos de seguridad ciudadana en Bucaramanga y su Área Metropolitana / Community participation in citizen security affairs in Bucaramanga and its Metropolitan Area / A participação comunitária nos assuntos da segurança cidadã em Bucaramanga e em sua área metropolitana

Las reformas policiales llevadas a cabo en América Latina en las últimas décadas han apostado por estimular la participación ciudadana en el diseño, la ejecución y la evaluación de políticas de seguridad. Se analiza el papel desempeñado por el ciudadano en el actual esquema de prestación del servicio policial en Colombia, a través de la implementación del Plan Nacional de Vigilancia Comunitaria por Cuadrantes en el Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga, y la percepción que los líderes comunitarios tienen en torno a la efectividad del modelo y al rol del ciudadano como gestor de su propia seguridad.

Police reforms carried out in Latin America during the past decades have been committed to foster citizen participation in the design, introduction and assessment of security policies. The role played by citizens in the current scheme of Police Service rendered in Colombia through the implementation of the “Plan Nacional de Vigilancia Comunitaria por Cuadrantes” (National Community Surveillance Plan by Quadrants) at the Metropolitan Area in Bucaramanga is analyzed, together with the perception that community leaders have of the model effectiveness and the citizens role as the managers of their own security.

As reformas policiais realizadas em América Latina nas últimas décadas apostaram para estimular a participação cidadã no projeto, na execução e na avaliação de políticas da segurança. O papel jogado pelo cidadão no esquema atual do fornecimento do serviço policial na Colômbia é analisado através da implementação do Plano Nacional de Monitoramento Comunitário por Quadrantes na área metropolitana de Bucaramanga, e a percepção que os líderes comunitários têm em torno da eficácia do modelo e ao papel do cidadão como o gestor da sua própria segurança.

Aproximación a la inteligencia policial(la Policía Federal de México, 2006-2012) / An approximation to police intelligence (the federal police of Mexico, 2006-2012) / Abordagem a inteligencia policial (a policia federal do Mexico, 2006-2012)

Del 2006 al 2012, la política criminal del gobierno del presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa le dio preeminencia a la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Federal, encarnada en la Policía Federal, a la que se dotó de una moderna plataforma tecnológica para la inteligencia; por lo tanto, esta contribución se centrará sobre la inteligencia policial y el derrotero de los últimos seis años de la inteligencia de la Policía Federal mexicana.

From 2006 through 2012, President Felipe Calderon’s criminal policy gave priority to the Federal Public Security Secretariat embodied in the Federal Police which was equipped with a modern technological platform for intelligence. Therefore, this contribution will focus on police intelligence and the path of the Mexican Federal Police in the past six years.

De 2006 a 2012, a política criminal do governo do presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa deu preeminência para o Secretariado da Segurança Pública Federal encarnada na Polícia Federal, que é dotada de uma moderna plataforma tecnológica para a inteligência; portanto, essa contribuição vai se centrar na inteligência da polícia e o curso dos últimos seis anos da inteligência da Policia Federal mexicana.

Is absence related to work stress? A repeated cross-sectional study on a special police force.

BACKGROUND: Sickness absence due to illness is considered an indicator of work-related stress. Police work is a very stressful job. Sickness absence and sick leave are frequent among policemen. METHODS: We tested whether stress variables were predictors of absenteeism in a police unit specifically assigned to the maintenance of law and order. RESULTS: Control, Reward, and Support were negatively related to frequency of absence and short-term absence. Demand and Effort were positively related to total lost days. Absence recorded in the previous year was the best predictor of absenteeism. We also found a positive, albeit weak association between absence in the previous year and subsequent work-related stress. CONCLUSIONS: Stress variables are associated with sickness absence, although the association is weak. Both short-term and prolonged sickness absence should be regarded as a warning sign for subsequent sickness absence and distress.

Military experience and levels of stress and coping in police officers.

Policing is a stressful occupation and working in this environment may make officers more vulnerable to adverse psychological and physiological outcomes. The impact of prior military experience on work stress and coping strategies has not been well-studied in police. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine differences in levels of police-related stress and coping in officers with and without military experience. Participants were 452 police officers from the Buffalo Cardio-metabolic Occupational Police Stress Study Officers were categorized into three groups: non-military (n = 334), non-combat military (n = 84), and military with combat (n = 34). Age, sex and education adjusted levels of psychological stress and coping measures were compared across the three groups using ANCOVA. P-values were derived from post-hoc comparisons. Non-military police officers had significantly higher stress levels for physically and psychological threatening events compared to non-combat officers (p = 0.019). Non-military officers also reported experiencing significantly more organizational stressors and physically and psychologically threatening events in the past year than combat and non-combat officers (p < 0.05). Combat officers had significantly lower levels of planning and active coping styles compared to non-combat officers (p = 0.026, p = 0.032, respectively) and non-military officers (p = 0.010, p = 0.005, respectively). In summary, police officers without military experience reported experiencing more organizational and life-threatening events than officers who served in the military. Yet combat officers were less likely to utilize positive coping than non-combat and non-military officers. These findings demonstrate the potential positive influence of military experience on police stress. Further research is needed as military veterans return to police work.

Blood lead levels among police officers in Lima and Callao, 2004.

Lead contamination is a public health problem of world-wide scope that negatively affects the health of especially women and children. Nevertheless, studies on lead contamination and its impact on health in Peru are limited. The objective of the present study was to determine blood lead levels (BLL) of traffic police officers in Lima and Callao compared with values in police officers working indoors and with data obtained in 1992. The study was performed in May-June 2004 and included 52 traffic officers and 50 officers working in police stations in the north, center and east of Lima and Callao, Peru. Both groups were of similar age. The dependent variables were arterial blood pressure and BLL obtained in each officer. In addition a questionnaire was applied to evaluate risk factors for lead exposure. In 2004, the average BLL in traffic police officers was higher (44.7+/-6.1microg/l) than that of indoor police officers (39.3+/-8.2microg/l) (p=0.0001). However, none of the police officers had BLL of over 100microg/l. No differences were observed in the location of the residences of the participants and the respective traffic density. Those over 30 years of age had a higher risk of having a BLL over 42microg/l than younger officers (odds ratio (OR)=4.45). Traffic police officers had a higher risk of BLL >42microg/l (OR=4.80). Compared with data from 1992 obtained from the literature, an important reduction has been observed in 2004. This may be a consequence of the policy to eliminate leaded gasoline in Peru. However, it is still necessary to monitor this policy to ensure the elimination of lead in gasoline.

HIV knowledge and risk behaviors among women in law enforcement in Bogota, Colombia: potential role as community educators.

As HIV infection is increasing among women, evaluation, prevention, and education campaigns need to target this vulnerable population. Because of their frequent and accepted contact with members of the community, female law officers, if knowledgeable, could be well suited to provide information/education related to HIV/STD transmission. A survey of HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behaviors was administered to 120 law enforcement women (LEW) and 60 women from the general population (GPW) in Bogotá, Colombia. LEW indicated a very high (90%) understanding of basic HIV knowledge. Although most (52%) of the LEW did not report high-risk behaviors, 29% indicated having unprotected sex during menses, and 17% had unprotected anal sex. This contrasts, however, with GPW, who were of similar age, but had a significantly higher prevalence (73%) of risky behaviors (P=.004). Moreover, 52% of the GPW reported having unprotected anal sex, and approximately half of this group (55%) indicated having unprotected sex during menses. Alcohol and drug users were also more prevalent in the GPW: 14% frequently used alcohol and 3% inhaled drugs during sexual encounters, contrasted to 2% of LEW reporting alcohol use. GPW were four times more likely than LEW, to engage in high-risk sexual practices [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.9-10.4, P=0.034]. Multivariate analyses indicated that alcohol and/or drug use were significantly associated with high-risk sexual practices [odds ratio (OR)=4.7, 95% confidence intervals (CI)=1.3-18.4, P=.02). Improved educational HIV/AIDS programs are needed, particularly for women in the general population, who use alcohol/drugs during sexual encounters, which account, at least in part, for their high-risk behaviors. Women in law enforcement, who appear knowledgeable and exhibit safer behaviors, could be useful educators for GPW. Because of their professional role in the community, training for LEW in HIV/AIDS education/prevention programs should be considered.