The ‘cost’ of caring in policing: From burnout to PTSD in police officers in England and Wales
Date
2021
Authors
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Volume Title
Publisher
The Police Journal
Abstract
This article looks at secondary trauma of police officers caused by working with traumatised victims, examining what is the true ‘cost of caring’ for police officers in England
and Wales. It will discuss common work-related ‘stressors’ in policing and review the
concepts commonly associated with secondary trauma such as ‘burnout’, ‘vicarious
trauma’, ‘compassion fatigue’, ‘secondary traumatic stress’ and their impact. It will
conclude with some recommendations and highlight the serious lack of literature on this
topic, making secondary trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in policing an under
researched area, particularly in relation to the effects of cumulative trauma in policing.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
trauma, policing, PTSD, burnout, United Kingdom, International Resources
Citation
Foley, J., & Massey, K. L. D. (2021). The ‘cost’of caring in policing: From burnout to PTSD in police officers in England and Wales. The Police Journal, 94(3), 298-315.