Overview This volume is in three sections. The literature review examines the evidence for social support mitigating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in emergency service personnel. Nineteen studies met the criteria for the review. A negative correlation between social support and PTSD symptoms was consistently reported, but the quality of evidence was variable. Further longitudinal research, and more sophisticated measurement of social support, is needed. The empirical paper reports on a qualitative study exploring police officers’ experiences of supportive and unsupportive interactions following potentially traumatic incidents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 police officers; transcripts were analysed thematically. A range of supportive interactions were described. Ambivalence about the use of talking was common, especially in the work context. Formal sources of work-based support were viewed sceptically, with a preference for humour and indirect talk with colleagues. Outside work, partners were a central source of support, although concerns that others would not understand the nature of emergency work or required protection from it, acted to constrain these interactions. The critical appraisal reflects on the process of planning and executing the research presented in the empirical paper, with a focus on recruitment and the interviewing process. The intertwining effects of the researcher on the research, and vice versa, are considered, with reference to epistemological and personal reflexivity.

Child protection is an area of Police work that has grown in the last decade, involving Police Officers working in departments that specialise in the investigation of cases of child abuse. Although Police Officers in this field may be at greater risk of experiencing Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS), there remains a paucity of research in this area of policing. Analogies can be drawn to existing research in policing and with social service workers involved in child protection.A mixed methodology was used to conduct the study and involved a self-completion postal questionnaire, followed up by a longitudinal case study of three of the trainee Detective Officers. The questionnaire sample consisted of 63 Detective Officers involved in the investigation of child abuse within the host Police Force, including Detective Constables, Sergeants and Inspectors.The Study found that 51% of the respondents experienced a degree of STS, findings that are suggestive that STS is being experienced by a significant portion of Detective Officers who, as part of their daily duties, investigate child protection cases. The longitudinal case study found that 2 out of the 3 cases indicated that their views and experiences of the symptoms of STS changed mid way through their training.The implications for Police Forces to provide safe working environments and appropriate counselling for employees as a tool to manage stress, to inform practice and from which the basis of reasonable precautions, risk assessments, monitoring and appropriate interventions will be discussed.