ABSTRACT

Globally, there is emerging evidence that drugs policing is moving away from traditional enforcement interventions towards a greater focus on harm reduction. Signs of a shift include alternatives to criminalisation in the form of police-led diversion schemes. This article examines the extent to which new directions in drugs policing reflect changes in police culture. The key change under consideration is police desistance from criminalising people who use drugs. Another aim is to advance theoretical debates into the factors affecting cultural change in police organisations. Drawing on an extensive qualitative study of challenges, innovation and reform in drugs policing across England and Wales, the findings capture the transformative effect of certain experiences on the values police officers hold and how they understand and make sense of drug problems, their role and impact. It is argued that further insights into cultural change can be gained by drawing on the concept of turning points from life-course criminology and desistance research. The findings also reveal how changes in the field of policing have fostered and facilitated changes in police culture and practice. A policy implication of this study is that cultural change could be furthered through experiential learning and critical reflective practice approaches to police education.

摘要

在全球范围内，有新的证据表明，毒品监管正在从传统的执法干预转向更加关注减少危害。转变的迹象包括以警察主导的转移计划形式替代刑事定罪。本文探讨了毒品监管的新方向在多大程度上反映了警察文化的变化。正在考虑的关键变化是警方停止将吸毒者定为犯罪。另一个目的是将理论辩论推进到影响警察组织文化变革的因素中。借鉴对英格兰和威尔士毒品监管挑战、创新和改革的广泛定性研究，调查结果反映了某些经历对警察所持价值观的变革性影响，以及他们如何理解和理解毒品问题、它们的作用和影响。有人认为，通过借鉴生命历程犯罪学和终止研究的转折点概念，可以获得对文化变革的进一步见解。调查结果还揭示了警务领域的变化如何促进和促进了警察文化和实践的变化。本研究的一个政策含义是，可以通过警察教育的体验式学习和批判性反思实践方法来促进文化变革。调查结果还揭示了警务领域的变化如何促进和促进了警察文化和实践的变化。本研究的一个政策含义是，可以通过警察教育的体验式学习和批判性反思实践方法来促进文化变革。调查结果还揭示了警务领域的变化如何促进和促进了警察文化和实践的变化。本研究的一个政策含义是，可以通过警察教育的体验式学习和批判性反思实践方法来促进文化变革。