Rank Matters

Rank Matters

Policing and Society

Police leadership and the authority of rank

"Drawing on the findings from 38 semi-structured interviews with police officers in a UK constabulary, this paper problematises conventional understanding of police leadership and theorises the use of rank through the creation of an analytical model, the Situated Authority Model of Leadership. The Model acts as framework for policing scholars and practitioners to critically consider the nuanced relationship between context and authority in police leadership. At a time when police organisations across the globe increasingly seek to adopt collaborative leadership practices, this paper contributes to the evidence base that challenges the development of alternative approaches to leadership and demonstrates that an appreciation of rank in the experience and practice of leadership is fundamental to the leadership reform in the police."

Source: Davis, C. (2018). Policing and Society. Read more here or full-text for AIPM students.

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