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Item How policewomen's experiences of 'male construct' interact with sustainability of career development and promotion practices : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2019) Mace, Stephanie JaneWomen in today’s New Zealand Police organisation work across almost all roles and ranks, including 14 percent representation at commissioned and non-commissioned officer level. Disparities relating to women and men’s access to senior and high-level roles and workgroups continue to challenge police, despite new policy and performance initiatives for cultural reform. Understanding how policewomen’s experiences of police as a gendered organisation interact with sustainability of career development and promotion practices exposes the rules of formation that permit the conditions and outcomes of structural processes and practices that engender women in police as they negotiate their career progression strategies. 28 policewomen at commissioned and non-commissioned officer ranks were interviewed in a semi-structured conversational style about their experiences. A Foucauldian discourse analysis was applied, attending to the gendered social power relations that define and delimit social practice and the governance of women, both within and outside the workplace. The analysis showed that dominant heteronormative discourses regulate policewomen’s practices of gender coherence within a hegemonic socio-cultural discourse of masculinist rationalisation that differentiates male / female, masculine /feminine as contingent subject positions and investments in compliance and/or resistance to social institutions of work and family. Furthermore, women were positioned within and through discourse as neoliberal active gendering agents whose subjection to, and mastery of, masculinist ideals for leadership shape career progression as the strategic navigation of work and family commitments in accordance with a duplicitous and inegalitarian system. Alternate realities were also presented as reproducing and re-producing masculine values and the gender order for progression in the police hierarchy. This research contributes to the paucity of scholarship attending to the career progression experiences of senior-ranking policewomen in a gendered organisation that function to reproduce dominant discourses as social power relations that intervene in the practices of women and men in police. It may also provide understanding for what may be required to transform and/or vanquish relations of power in order to effect meaningful long-term organisational transformation.Item A pilot study : high intensity intermittent training to combat chronic stress in the New Zealand Police : a Master's thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2016) Kurtovich, Rebecca JaneBackground: Stress is increasingly being reported to be associated with immunosuppression, disease progression and psychological illness (Sergerstrom & Miller, 2004). Police are considered to be employed in a highly stressful occupation and due to this are at a heightened risk for developing negative chronic stress related disorders (de Terte & Stephens, 2014). There are known strategies to combat stress such as exercise. However, in moderately active individuals a more vigorous exercise programme is needed to reduce the effects of stress. High intensity intermittent training (HIIT) could be a potential stress reducing mechanism especially due to its success in treating obesity, weight loss and cardiac issues (Gibala, Little, MacDonald, & Hawley, 2012; Schoenfeld & Dawes, 2009). Aim: To see the effects of HIIT on chronic stress indices in the New Zealand Police. Method: Using three single case studies, this study employed a 10-week HIIT intervention measuring markers of stress such as Perceived Stress Scale scores, cortisol levels and associated blood immune markers at baseline and postintervention. Results: Chronically stressed police officers displayed high perceived stress scale scores and compromised immune functioning due to decreased cortisol secretion and increased eosinophil count. Post-intervention decreased perceived stress, normalised cortisol levels and reduced immune inflammation markers. Conclusion: High Intensity intermittent training decreases perceived chronic stress while also providing further evidence for the relationship between systemic inflammation and mental disease.Item Determining the impact of trauma and daily organisational hassles on psychological distress and burnout in New Zealand police officers; and the moderating role of social support : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology, at Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2017) Geeson, NikkiThroughout the course of their career police officers are exposed to traumatic events and work hassles. Work hassles which are minor irritating aspects of work, such as work overload, have been found to have a stronger association with pathogenic outcomes than traumatic events. Among police samples work hassles have been commonly studied in relation to psychological distress, and traumatic events have been commonly studied in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder and psychological distress. There have been fewer studies with burnout as an outcome, even though work hassles have been strongly associated with burnout in other occupations. Traumatic events are rarely studied in relation to burnout among police samples, even though they have been related to exhaustion, which is one of the core components of burnout. In relation to traumatic events and work hassles, social support has been found to have a moderating effect on both psychological distress and burnout. The moderating role of supervisor, colleague and family/friend social support was evaluated in this study, and an understanding of social support was further extended by exploratory research, which explored police officers preferences for sources of social support across different work events. The sample in this study consisted of 603 New Zealand police officers from three separate districts, who completed a web based survey. Evaluated in this study was the impact of traumatic event exposure on psychological distress and burnout, and the impact of work hassles on psychological distress and burnout, along with the moderating role of social support. It was found that traumatic event exposure and work hassles were associated to psychological distress. Traumatic event exposure was associated to exhaustion, and work hassles were associated to exhaustion, cynicism and lower levels of professional efficacy. The exploratory research found that police officers preferences for social support did change across events.Item Out and about : a study of policework in Palmerston North : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology at Massey University(Massey University, 1992) Jones, Janine FrancisThis study offers a new conception of policework. It does so by utilizing Foucault's idea of knowledge as power in an empirical examination of front-line policework. Rethinking policework in this sense necessitates a break with the orthodox view of the police as 'the law' and instead, this study considers that knowledge/power relations might form a fundamental component of policework. It shows how such relations reinforce one another and inform the routine work of the police. In contrast to reactive law enforcement which targets crime, knowledge/power forms a generalized pro-active power which operates to induce compliance and order relations. Knowledge/power works through the implementation of surveillance, normalizing judgements and the examination, to provide what Foucault calls 'the technology of discipline'. In rejecting the view of policework as a narrow response to crime, a major methodological issue lies in specifying the rationality of productive power. To this end, Foucault provides the necessary guidelines to recognize and understand the workings of power: power should be seen as creative and should be sought in its own field. aside from the state or law. Far from being repressive or a form of domination, power should be seen as discreet with decidedly humanist tendencies. These insights form a framework for the study of policework and power. The fieldwork period of the study covered a time-span of eight weeks during which material was gathered through interviews and by observing police activities in Palmerston North. This permitted a structural interpretation of power and social practices and opened the way for fresh theoretical perspectives on the subject of policework. The findings of this study support Foucault's view that policework is not merely repressive and limited to law. This study portrays policework as productive with an unlimited capacity to manage social behaviour and relations.Item Locus of control, type A behaviours and coping style as predictors of police performance : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 2006) Saunders, IainThe current study explores the relationship between individual differences, related to the human stress response, and performance of Police Recruits in training at the Royal New Zealand Police College (N = 114). Data was collected during training sessions on stress management in Policing using scales from the Pressure Management Indicator (PMI) for Type A behaviour, Locus of Control and the use of positive coping. These variables were regressed against three performance data sets. Performance on two of the three dependant variables were found to be significantly and positively related to the PMI measures of the independent variables. Hierarchical regression analyses were carried out with mental ability, gender and age controlled for and predictive relationships were found for each of the dependant performance variables also, the strongest relationship being for overall Wing performance, variation in which was 68% accounted for by the model. Entry of the three PMI scales as a block explained significant unique variance in each performance measure over and above the variance explained by GMA. Further research is suggested to further explore the utility of measures of hardiness and stress tolerance for Police selection.Item Police stress, general well-being and job satisfaction : the moderating effects of social support : thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2015) Johnston, FionaPolice stress, general well-being and job satisfaction :|bthe moderating effects of social support :|b thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Psychology at Massey University, New ZealandItem Review of Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group fitness policy for the New Zealand Police : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2015) Dickie, James AlexanderPhase One: Web based survey questionnaire. Recruitment into the New Zealand Police’s Armed Offenders Squad [AOS] and Special Tactics Group [STG] depends on successful completion of selection courses, as detailed in their respective physical fitness policies. Importantly, these physical assessments must be justified as being relevant and representative of the necessities of job duties. Therefore, as part of a review of the physical fitness policies of the AOS and STG of the New Zealand Police, Phase One of this research sought to objectively determine similarities and relationships between the AOS and STG, and the relevance of physical selection tasks utilised. A web-based survey questionnaire was developed to: 1) provide a demographic profile of the AOS and STG; 2) identify why candidates chose to participate in selection; 3) identify potential barriers for gaining entrance into the AOS and STG; 4) identify physical preparation methods for selection tests; 5) identify troublesome tests; and 6) establish the validity between fitness assessments and the perceived relevance of job demands. A total of 179 AOS (N = 298) and 35 (N = 38) STG members volunteered to participate in the on-line survey document. The main findings revealed that the 12 minute bridge test had the lowest perceived relevance of all selection tests, while the rope pull-up had moderate perceived relevance but was coupled with a high failure rate. This provided evidence to further research the aforementioned assessments in Phase Two of this project. Abstract Review of AOS and STG fitness policy for NZ Police 2 Phase Two: Analysis of the rope pull-up and twelve minute rotational bridge. The rope pull-up and 12 minute bridge test are physical assessments utilised to identify whether STG members possess appropriate levels of physical fitness required to perform their role. Due to a lack of empirical research, and Phase One findings, this study sought to: 1) determine whether the rope pull-up is a suitable assessment tool to assess operational climbing ability; and 2) determine whether the 12 minute rotational bridge test is a safe and suitable assessment of core endurance. Nineteen STG members (mean ± SD; 40 ± 5 y, 184 ± 5 cm, 93.6 ± 7.4 kg, 25.4 ± 1.9 kg·m²) volunteered to participate in this research. Surface electromyography was utilised to measure peak muscle activity of the brachioradialis, biceps brachii, mid-deltoid, upper pectoralis major, mid-trapezius, lower trapezius, latissimus dorsi and infraspinatus during rope pull-up, ladder climb and rope climb tasks. Average muscle activity and signal frequency of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, mutlifidus, lumbar erector spinae, thoracic erector spinae, latissimus dorsi and mid-deltoid were measured during the 12 minute bridge test. Results revealed significantly higher activation of the pectoralis major during the ladder climb when compared to the rope pull-up (81.2 vs. 47.1 %MVIC), and of the pectoralis major (102.6 vs. 47.1 %MVIC) and infraspinatus (81.9 vs. 57.4 %MVIC) during the rope climb, when compared to the rope pull-up (all, P < .01). Rotation between prone and side positions in the bridge test suitably assessed muscular endurance of all major muscles involved in core stability. No significant differences in signal frequency across each stage, for all muscles (P > .05), indicated that muscular fatigue was minimal. Based on the present study, the rope pull-up was deemed non-appropriate to assess operational climbing ability; while the rotational bridge served as a practical endurance assessment of all major muscles involved in core stability, with the 12 minute duration not likely to cause fatigue related injury.Item Care and control : exploring the gendering of emotion management tasks among uniformed police : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Sociology(Massey University, 1996) Adams, Diana MargaretThis study of uniformed police constables highlights the emotion management tasks undertaken as part of the caring and controlling interventions of 'front line' police. In particular, it considers the ways in which the integration of women into patrol work has coincided with a more newly developed emphasis on the caring and responsive veneer of the police organisation. This latter endeavour has been most significant with respect to changing police work styles and practices in responding to incidents of domestic violence and it is in these areas that the convergence of these two changes is most apparent. The result has been the re-emergence of a systematically gendered specialisation of policing tasks. Under this informal system of task segregation, female constables have come to assume responsibility for modern 'care' provision whilst male constables maintain their historic responsibility for 'control'. This pattern of differential deployment significantly contravenes an espoused commitment to equality of opportunity and treatment at the same time as its persistence works to compromise much championed commitments to re-orientating police work styles and police responses to the public. The findings of this study suggest that the police organisation may be able to improve both the quality of work life of its incumbents and the way in which it delivers critical services to the public by more seriously embracing policies of equal employment opportunity.Item Police discourse on policing domestic violence : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 1996) Pinkus, Jennifer AnneThis research looks at how six police officers talk about policing domestic violence. The analysis is based on interview data collected in 1993-4, in Palmerston North, New Zealand. A 'discursive approach' was adopted in analyzing the texts. The central assumption was that the meanings given to events and people are likely to influence policing practice. Two main areas were looked at: the first was the social construction of policing domestic violence; the second was how the officers talk seemed to position people as either deserving or undeserving of police 'discretion'. Gender, race, and class assumptions influenced these decisions. Women who were about to leave or had attempted to leave a violent relationship were seen as more deserving of police time. Women generally were negatively constructed in the talk of them, and no excuses or justifications were given as explanatory accounts for their actions. By contrast, excuses and justifications were often offered for some men to account for their violence. This tended to be more evident if the offender was a white middle-class male. Thus, some forms of violence and abuse seemed to be condoned, and no action was taken. Maori and Pacific Island men, in contrast, were viewed as the 'type of guys' most likely to beat their wives. Generally, though, domestic violence still seemed to be viewed as a 'private' matter or a 'relationship' issue. This interpretation appeared to function in a way to place domestic violence in the category of 'not real police work', thereby decreasing the likelihood that action would be taken in the form of an arrest. This is contrary to a policy that endorses arrest and the criminalization of male violence in the home.Item The development of security intelligence in New Zealand, 1945-1957 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Defence Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand(Massey University, 2012) Wharton, Miriam LThis thesis focuses on the development of security intelligence in New Zealand between the end of World War II in 1945 and the formation of the New Zealand Security Service in 1956-57. It provides an overview of how this development occurred at a government, senior executive and senior advisory level. There are three key questions that form its parameters: What were the key events and influences which shaped the development of New Zealand’s security intelligence from a predominantly police-oriented capability in 1945 into an independent capability from 1956-57? Who were the domestic and international parties contributing to that development? What is the significance of this period in New Zealand’s intelligence history? A qualitative and generally chronological methodology is applied to describe the process of maturation that security intelligence in New Zealand underwent during the period in question, beginning with a brief description of the arrangements in place before and during World War II. The majority of the thesis is concerned with describing and analysing how domestic and international influences shaped the progression of a security intelligence capability in New Zealand, culminating in the formation of the Security Service. In doing so it broadens understanding of the state’s intelligence history in the early to mid-twentieth century, while remaining aware of the complexity of intelligence as it is applied within a state context.
