Philip Birch

Sex Worker Victimization, Modes of Working, and Location in New South Wales, Australia: A Geography of Victimization

This article examines the association among victimization, modes of sex working, and the locations used by sex workers through an analysis of “Ugly Mug” reports detailing 528 crime acts in 333 reported incidents in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. These forms, voluntarily lodged between 2000 and 2008 by members of NSWs estimated 10,000 sex worker population, suggest that street-based work has a higher victimization rate than other modes of working, including escort work, work in commercial premises, and private work. Although this ostensibly supports the commonly held view that “outdoor” working is more dangerous than “indoor” work, this analysis suggests that most instances of victimization actually occur in private spaces. Hence, it is argued that risks of victimization in sex work are influenced by a variety of environmental characteristics relating to concealment, control, and isolation, suggesting that not all off-street locations are equally safe. We conclude with recommendations for policy regarding sex work.

Violent and sexual offenders: Assessment, treatment and management

Foreword by Professor David P. Farrington Part I: Risk assessment - current perspectives 1. Violence risk assessment, Jennifer Lavoie, Laura Guy and Kevin Douglas 2. Sexual offender risk assessment: research, evaluation, best practice recommendations, and future directions, Douglas P. Boer and Stephen Hart 3. Domestic violence and stalking risk assessment, Randall Kropp Part II: Clinical assessment - current perspectives 4. Therapeutic assessment issues to consider with violent offenders, Jane L. Ireland 5. Assessing therapeutic needs for sex offenders, Leigh Harkins and Tony Beech 6. Assessing the clinical needs for stalking and domestic violence, Werner Tschan Part III: Treatment and management - current perspectives 7. Treatment approaches for violence, Jane L. Ireland 8. Treatment approaches for sexual violence, Carol A. Ireland and Rachel Worthington 9. Implications for treatment approaches for interpersonal violence: stalking and domestic, Niki Graham-Kevan and Stefanie Ashton Wigman 10. In their own worlds: the relationship between thinking and doing for convicted paedophiles, David Wilson and Tim Jones 11. Comparative analysis of the management of sex offenders within the USA and UK, Bill Hebenton 12. Challenges of managing the risk of violent and sexual offenders in the community, Tom Considine and Philip Birch

Emotionally Abusive Behavior in Young Couples: Exploring a Role for Implicit Aggression

Emotionally abusive behaviors reported across a 6-month period in intimate relationships were examined. There were 269 participants aged 18–25 years who took part (98 men, 171 women). All completed the Multidimensional Measure of Emotional Abuse (MMEA) and a measure of implicit aggression, the Puzzle Test. Implicit processing refers to subtle cognitive processing that occurs outside of conscious awareness. This study focused on aggressive implicit processing. Overall emotional victimization by a partner was associated with increased implicit aggressive levels, particularly for women. Those classified as perpetrators/victims (mutual aggressors and victims) were also predicted by increased implicit aggression. Women reported higher levels of implicit aggression than men. Results are discussed regarding future research and the value of theory in understanding the association between emotional abuse and implicit aggression.

Examining the portrayal of homophobic and non-homophobic aggression in print media through an integrated grounded behavioural linguistic inquiry (IGBLI) approach

Purpose The role of the media in supporting an understanding of the social world is well documented. The representation of homosexuals in the media can therefore impact on homophobia within society. The purpose of this paper is to examine how homosexuals are portrayed in the media generally, before examining and comparing newspaper reports of homosexual aggression with heterosexual aggression. Design/methodology/approach Utilising a new and innovative research methodology, an integrated grounded behavioural linguistic inquiry (IGBLI) approach, four daily newspapers in circulation within the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia are examined. Findings While there are similarities in the way print media report on these aggressive incidents, the differences which emerge from the findings are of interest which require further, more in-depth study. Practical implications To extend the methodology of IGBLI to other forms of media content in order to further validate the approach. To reduce the differences between LGBTI news reports and heterosexual news reports. To hold the media to account for the ways in which they express their content. To encourage users of the media, in particular print media, to be critical of what they read. Originality/value Typically, analysis of media utilises the research method of content analysis. This paper adopts a new and innovative research method, an IGBLI approach, which incorporates a behavioural assessment in the form of a SORC.

Wellbeing, occupational justice and police practice: an ‘affirming environment’?

Abstract This paper examines wellbeing and occupational justice within the police profession. The research presented is based on a preliminary study utilising a qualitative methodology in which 14 in-depth interviews were conducted with rank and file police officers in one state of Australia. The data-set reveals that there are many positive aspects to being a police officer, contrary to the ‘dysfunction’ research that exists concerning the police in which corruption and poor performance prevails. The data analysis supports the notion that the practice of the police can be understood through a framework of wellbeing, occupational justice, and positive psychology. Whilst the research yields strong positive aspects in the work police officers engage in, as well as in their working environment, there are challenges within the profession, namely dealing with traumatic events that can hinder wellbeing and occupational justice. This study offers evidence to reflect on current policies and practices in terms of police recruitment, education and training. The study also offers evidence for improving staff retention by building on the principles of wellbeing and occupational justice within police practice.

Procedural justice and frontline policing: the effects of the police complaints system

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present results from a qualitative study exploring the complaints system within New South Wales Police Force in Australia. The stories shared illustrate the impact of the complaints system on officers currently serving in this force. The study reveals how the complaints system impacts on both the working conditions and workplace environment of police officers, as well as impacting on the professional relationships amongst each other. Design/methodology/approach – The study is qualitative in design, in which in-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 14 rank and file police officers. The qualitative analysis draws upon a thematic approach and a direct reference to police officer comments and perspectives are illustrated and used to inform the framework of the discussion and implications for further research in this area. Findings – The findings yield three central themes – “police perceptions of accountability”; “the complaints tool – a question of intra i...

The Panopticon Effect: The Surveillance of Police Officers’

Purpose – Police officers from a police force in Australia were interviewed about the types and level of surveillance they experience in their work, with the recognition of technology contributing to an increased level of such. The concept of the Panopticon and the Looking-Glass Self offer useful frameworks for understanding the experiences of those police officers interviewed. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Based on 14 in-depth unstructured interviews with police officers, this study is an exploratory piece of research. Findings – This study presents findings in which police officers spoke of the surveillance they encounter from the perspective of the police organisation; their own self-surveillance as well as being monitored by other police officers. This paper argues that the Panopticon Effect can negatively impact on individual officers as well as overall police practice. Originality/value – This paper is an exploratory study based on the experiences of rank and file police officers currently in service. The paper considers the surveillance and scrutiny of police officers from within the organisation and recognises the impact of technology.

Men procuring sexual services from women: everyman or peculiar man?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore characteristics of men procuring sexual services from women. Design/methodology/approach – This is a quantitative study using questionnaires and purposive sampling. The sample was from New South Wales, Australia, and included brothels and outreach organisations where sex work is decriminalised. The participants were 309 men who reported procuring sexual services with women. Findings – Primary motivations for procurement included thrill/excitement and attractiveness of the sex worker. Cluster analysis identified five groups, the most frequent being those with a drive for exciting, thrill-seeking sex with an attractive partner and those with the same drive but not wanting investment. High proportions of men were married, in professional employment and did not present with a criminal history. Sexual experiences procured were conventional. Procurement presented as an enduring behaviour maintained across decades, commencing at a young age. Involvement in procur...

Changing the perception of police culture: recognising masculinity diversity and difference in a “dirty hands” vocation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to problematise the application of hegemonic masculinity to police practice and culture. Design/methodology/approach This paper offers a viewpoint and is a discussion paper critiquing the application of hegemonic masculinity to police officers, their practice and culture. Findings The paper suggests that a broader conceptualisation of masculinity, offered by scholars such as Demetriou (2001), is required when considering policing and its culture, in order to more accurately reflect the activity and those involved in it. Research limitations/implications Writings concerning police practice and culture, both in the media and academic discourse, are questionable due to the application of hegemonic masculinity. The application of hegemonic masculinity can create a biased perception of policing and police officers. Practical implications The paper helps to engender a more accurate and balanced examination of the police, their culture and practice when writing about policing institutions and encourage social institutions such as academia to address bias in their examination of policing institutions and police officers. Originality/value There has been limited consideration in regards to multiple masculinities, police practice and culture.

Partner abuse and its association with emotional distress: A study exploring LGBTI relationships

This study examines partner abuse in LBGTI relationships, with focus on the associations with emotional distress and protective factors. Two hundred and eighty-seven participants took part. Partner abuse (victimisation) comprised three factors; conflict orientated aggression; hostile ignorance and control of communication; and social control and possessiveness (including threats to possessions). Perpetration factors were similar. Significant differences across sexuality or gender were limited to the perpetration of abuse relating to suspicion and possessiveness, where men were more likely to report this than the other gender groups, and women were less likely to report this. Of those reporting abuse in their current relationship, over half reported experiencing abuse in a primary relationship previously, with 60% reporting exposure to abuse as a child. Partner abuse in their current relationship predicted current levels of increased emotional distress, with reduced satisfaction with the current relationship having an indirect impact on this association. Resilience traits were not a predictor or mediator. The results demonstrate the similarity in abuse across LGBTI communities despite the diversity of genders, sexualities and experiences within these groups. The results are discussed with regard to directions for future research and implications for practice.