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Abstract
The paper seeks to determine whether indicators evincing attitudes of police culture themes of solidarity, isolation and cynicism amongst SAPS officials are gender neutral as well as change in relation to Van Maanen’s and Manning’s stages of police culture socialisation. Using a survey format, the researcher employed a longitudinal design. The study established that SAPS cadets that commenced their basic training at the six SAPS basic training institutes in January 2005, entered the organisation with predispositions in furtherance of solidarity, isolation and cynicism. The period of ‘college/academy training’ (January to June 2005) did not significantly counteract these tendencies, neither the subsequent ‘field training’ (July to December 2005). Nine years on, and these attitudes intensified. The study further found that for the duration of the project (10 years), female trainees and their conversion to fully-fledged police officials had mostly stronger values exhibiting solidarity, isolation and cynicism, compared to their male counterparts.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. One can distinguish between public and private police organisations in respect of decision-making, general policies, means of communication, personnel management, materials procurement, financial management and marketing. For the purposes of the current study police refers to the ‘public’ police as appose to ‘private’ police. For further reading on the private police conceptualisation it would be meaningful to consult Wakefield, A. (2003). Selling security: The private policing of public space. Cullompton: Willan.
2. The term ‘police official’ incorporates all ranks whilst a ‘police officer’ refers to police officials holding the rank of lieutenant or higher.
3. The terms organisational police culture and occupational police culture are used interchangeably in most respects.