Background: In 2003, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service gave instructions that all the new student constables should undergo a personnel capacity-building programme as part of their basic training. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme by Police Social Work Services. This programme IS, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually. A comprehensive study into the short and long-term effects of the programme on recruits, as well as its overall return on investment (ROI), was started in 2004. In this document, only the results that were achieved with the measurement of the programme's decision-making and purpose-in-life components will, however, be covered. Objectives: The study had a twofold purpose. The first was to measure the short and long-term effect of the Financial Management, Planning of Goals, Self-knowledge, Problem-solving and HIV/AIDS Awareness modules on recruit's knowledge, attitude and behaviour. It, secondly, endeavoured to measure the programme's return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 400 experimental group respondents, 120 control group members, 12 focus group participants and 14 presenters per module. A total of 23 questionnaires and a focus group schedule was designed and utilised in the generation of data. Results: All five modules had a practical significant effect on the respondents' knowledge, attitude and behaviour and improved their personal and professional functioning considerably. The "decision-making" and "purpose-in-life" components, as well as the programme as a whole, also produced a very high return on investment. It, therefore, implies that the Self-Management Programme should be seen as both a very effective capacity-building tool and a financial asset for the South African Police Service. / Thesis (Ph.D. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Background: The success achieved with the South-African Police Service’s generic Personnel Capacity-Building Programmes contributed to a 2003 decision by the National Commissioner that a similar type of intervention should be included in the basic training of SAPS recruits. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme. This programme is, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually and is presented on a bi-annual basis. A comprehensive study into the programme’s short-term and long-term effect and return on investment (ROI) was launched in 2004. This thesis will report on the results achieved with the measurement of the programme’s human relation and health maintenance components. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Self-Management Programme’s human relations and health maintenance modules on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS recruits, as well as the programme’s return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 520 recruits (400 for the experimental groups and 120 for the control groups) per module. This was supplemented by qualitative research in which 91 recruits participated in various focus groups. The modules and programme was also subjected to a structured and comprehensive return on investment analysis. Results: Through the triangulation of measurements it was ascertained that the human relations and health maintenance modules had a practical significant effect on the recruits’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour and empowered them on both a personal and a professional level. The ROI analysis also showed that the programme was of considerable financial benefit to the SAPS and should remain as an integral part of all new recruits’ training in the future. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Background: The success achieved with the South-African Police Service’s generic Personnel Capacity-Building Programmes contributed to a 2003 decision by the National Commissioner that a similar type of intervention should be included in the basic training of SAPS recruits. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme. This programme is, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually and is presented on a bi-annual basis. A comprehensive study into the programme’s short-term and long-term effect and return on investment (ROI) was launched in 2004. This thesis will report on the results achieved with the measurement of the programme’s human relation and health maintenance components. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Self-Management Programme’s human relations and health maintenance modules on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS recruits, as well as the programme’s return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 520 recruits (400 for the experimental groups and 120 for the control groups) per module. This was supplemented by qualitative research in which 91 recruits participated in various focus groups. The modules and programme was also subjected to a structured and comprehensive return on investment analysis. Results: Through the triangulation of measurements it was ascertained that the human relations and health maintenance modules had a practical significant effect on the recruits’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour and empowered them on both a personal and a professional level. The ROI analysis also showed that the programme was of considerable financial benefit to the SAPS and should remain as an integral part of all new recruits’ training in the future. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Thesis (Master).

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Foreign criminal syndicates are using South Africa as a springboard to commit certain crimes throughout the world. The crimes vary from fraud to murder to dealing in drugs. The South African Police Service does possess the capacity and the means to trace and arrest these criminals but this is not enough. Foreigners arrested in this country are tried and sentenced without any checks being done in order to determine whether the subject is possibly sought by other policing agencies throughout the world. One of the means available to the South African Police Service but which is completely under utilizsed is the component "Interpol", which is based within the Crime Intelligence division at Head Office in Pretoria. One reason for the under utilisation of this component is the absence of an operational policy. The design of a policy document will inform members of the South African Police Service of the environment in which Interpol operates and what contribution it can make in respect of- the investigation of crimes that have an international dimension. The theoretical aspects of the policy environment have been discussed and it was found that it is of importance that the proper goals and objectives are formulated and that policy analyst must be able to differentiate between the two. As progress is made in respect of the policy document the analyst will have to keep abreast with current tendencies and make the necessary adjustments. These changes must not be of such a nature that the goals and objectives of the policy document are changed or altered. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the police, especially in Europe, began to realise that criminals were regularly committing offences in other countries and then returning to their own country. There was nothing that the police could do in this regard as the extradition of a criminal was done applied for in exceptional circumstances. The possibility of establishing an international policing agency in order to assist all policing agencies in combating these "cross-border" crimes was investigated. The first conference was held during 1914 in Monaco. This was the first of many conferences that would lead to the establishment of the international policing agency known as "Interpol". South Africa only joined the organisation in September 1993. It is proposed that an operational policy document be drafted and send to all the divisions of the South African Police Service. This document clearly stipulates how Interpol Pretoria can be of assistance to all the divisions of the South African Police Service. This includes what must be done when foreign nationals are arrested in South Africa and when members of the South African police Service undertake official journeys to foreign countries. The document also includes how the component is managed, its structure and the nature of its duties. Research has proven that there is a need for a policy document for Interpol Pretoria. It is recommended that the operational policy document be accepted. Once accepted, the document must be converted into a national instruction. The advantages of a document of this nature are: ./' The component already exists and no additional funding is required to establish the component. ./' More members of the South African Police Service will be able to make use of the services rendered by the component. Of the disadvantages in this regard, is that it is a long-winded procedure that has to be followed before the document is approved. Visits will have to be undertaken to hold "information sessions" with the commanders within the various provinces. Research has illustrated that policy documents are valuable within the Public Service. The absence of a policy document is not necessarily a disadvantage to certain units within the policing environment but when it comes to available resources not being optimally utilized, the reason therefore could be the absence on an operational policy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika word deur buitelandse misdaadsindikate as afsetgebied gebruik om sekere misdade oor die hele wêreld heen te pleeg. Die misdade wissel van bedrog tot moord tot dwelmhandel. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens beskik weloor bronne en kennis om die misdadigers op te spoor en in hegtenis te neem. Maar dit is nie genoeg nie. Buitelanders wat in hegtenis geneem word, word vervolg sonder dat daar vasgestel word of die persoon deur ander polisie-agentskappe in ander wêrelddele gesoek word. Van die bronne wat tot die beskikking van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens is, maar wat heeltemalonderbenut word, is die "Interpol"-komponent van Misdaadintelligensie, Hoofkatnoor, Pretoria. Een van die redes hiervoor is dat daar geen operasionele beleid vir hierdie komponent bestaan nie. Die opstel van so 'n beleidsdokument sal lede van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens inlig oor die werksmilieu waarbinne "Interpol" werk en watter bydrae die komponent by die ondersoek van misdade met 'n internasionale dimensie kan maak. Die teoretiese aspekte van die beleidsmilieu is bespreek en daar is gevind dat dit van kardinale beland is om behoorlik geformuleerde doelstellings en doelwitte op te stel. Die beleidsanalis behoort ook tussen die twee kan onderskei. Soos die opstel van die document vorder, is dit belangrik dat die analis met nuwe tendense moet tred hou en die nodige verstellings behoort aanbring te word. Dié verstellings behoort nie van so 'n aard wees dat dit die doelstellings en doelwitte van die beleidsdokument verander nie. Teen die middle van die negentiende eeu het die polisie, veral in Europa begin besef dat misdadigers gereeld misdade in ander lande pleeg en dan na hulle eie land terugkeer. Daar was niks wat die polisiebeamptes hieraan kon doen nie aangesien die uitlewering van 'n verdagte slegs in uitsonderlik egevalle aangevra is. Die moontlikheid is ondersoek dat 'n internasionale polisie-organisasie op die been gebring moes word wat alle polisie-agentskappe sou help om "oorgrensmisdade" te bekamp. Die eerste konferensie van dié is in 1914 in Monaco gehou. Dit was die eerste van 'n reeks konferensies wat aanleidign sou gee tot die totstandkoming van die internasionale polisie-organisasie wat vandag as "Interpol" bekend staan. Suid- Afrika het eers in September 1993 lid van dié organisasie geword. 'n Operasionele beleidsdokument word voorgestel wat na al die afdelings van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens versprei moet word. Die dokument gee 'n uiteensetting van hoe Interpol Pretoria ander afdelings van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens van hulp kan wees, soos byvoorbeeld wat van lede in sekere gevalle verlang word, soos waar buitelandse burgers gearresteer word en/of wanneer lede amptelike besoeke aan ander lande aflê. Die dokument gee ook 'n uiteensetting van hoe die komponent bedryf word, asook van sy struktuur en werksaamhede. Die navorsing bewys dat daar 'n behoefte aan 'n beleidsdokument vir Interpol Pretoria bestaan. Daar word aanbeveel dat die operasionele beleidsdokument aanvaar behoort te word. Nadat dit goedgekeur is, behoort dit in 'n nasionale instruksie omskep te word. Die voordele van so 'n dokument is meervoudig, en sluit die volgende in: ./ Die Komponent bestaan reeds en bykomende fondse hoef nie daarvoor bewillig te word nie . ./ Meer lede van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens sal die dienste gebruik wat die komponent verskaf. Van die nadele is dat dit 'n langdurige proses is om so 'n beleidsdokument te laat goedkeur. Besoeke sal aan die verskeie provinsiale kantore gebring behoort te word om 'inligtingsessies' met die bevelvoerders te hou. Die navorsig het weer eens bewys dat beleidsdokumente nog steeds 'n waardevolle plek in die Staatsdiens het. Die gebrek aan 'n beleid is nie noodwendig nadelig vir sekere eenhede binne die polisiemilieu nie, maar wanneer daar gekyk word na die onderbenutting van bestaande bronne, kan dit heel moontlik aan die afwesigheid van 'n operasionele beleidsdokument toegeskryf word.

Thesis (MEcon)--Stellenboschniversity, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The application of discipline is crucial for the South African Police Service. The new political dispensation in South Africa resulted in the amalgamation of different police departments and the use of the Discipline Regulations of 1995 as the new standard of discipline. The magnitude of the police service makes the application of discipline difficult and results in lengthy disciplinary procedures that cause high levels of frustration and stress amongst police officials. The high suicide rate amongst police officials raises questions regarding the factors that cause undue pressure. This led to the interest for this study and the following research questions: Firstly, how do police officials perceive the fairness of the disciplinary procedures of the SAPS. Secondly, what guidelines can be developed to enhance the police official's perception regarding the fairness of the disciplinary procedure. The theoretical perspective focused on discipline in organisations and procedural justice to describe fairness perceptions. The present study was divided into two phases. Firstly, to identify and describe the police official's experience of the disciplinary procedures of the SAPS and secondly, to develop guidelines that would enhance the fairness experience of the disciplinary procedures by police officials. The study was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual in design, The data was obtained by means of phenomenological interviews with respondents of two different populations, namely police officials that were exposed to a departmental tribunal, and experts of the disciplinary procedures of the SAPS. Once saturation level of the data was obtained, interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed by utilizing the steps described by Tesch (Cresswell, 1994). The services of an independent decoder were also called in during the data analysis. Various themes were identified, as having an influence on the police official's experience of the disciplinary procedures of the SAPS. These are as follows: Police officials experience discrimination amongst members; that the process is emotionally exhausting; that the process becomes needlessly complex due to many petty or unnecessary charges; that there is a lack of consistent actions between the different role players in the process. The expert respondent group identified the following themes: There is a lack of consistent actions in the application of the process; cases are unique in nature and are assessed on merit; cases are often delayed; police officials experience the process as traumatic; station commissioners do not investigate cases properly; there is either a lack of emotional support or it is been wrongly applied. Throughout the process, steps were maintained to ensure trustworthiness. A literature control was also conducted to verify themes. Themes of the expert group were also used to verify themes of the police officials' group. Guidelines intended for use by supervisors and commanders were drawn up. These were based on the data obtained. The guidelines are supported by the existing Discipline Regulations (RSA, 1996), as well as the Discipline Guidelines (SAPS, 1996). It should therefore be of great value and use to supervisors and commanders. Recommendations for the application of the results in discipline practices, discipline education and further research concerning the discipline paradigm are discussed. In conclusion, findings indicated that police officials experience the disciplinary procedures of the SAPS as stressful and frustrating, and often as traumatic and emotionally exhausting. Supervisors and commanders should therefore endeavor towards the effective application of discipline in order to allow for a more fair perception of the process by their subordinates. It could also be advantageous towards the change of undesirable behaviour and to enhance moral and organisational climate at the station or unit. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toepassing van dissipline is onontbeerlik vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens. Die nuwe politieke bestel in Suid-Afrika het die amalgamering van onderskeie polisiedepartemente tot gevolg gehad, en Dissipline-Regulasies wat gedurende 1995 uitgevaardig is dien nou as maatstaf vir dissipline-toepassing. Die omvang van die polisiediens maak die toepassing van dissipline moeilik en veroorsaak dat die dissiplinêre prosedure dikwels uitgerek word en dat dit baie spanning en frustrasie onder polisielede veroorsaak. Die hoë selfmoordsyfer onder polisiebeamptes veroorsaak baie vrae ten opsigte van die faktore wat onnodige druk op hulle mag plaas. Dit het aanleiding gegee tot hierdie studie en die stel van die volgende navorsingsvrae: Eerstens, hoe billik polisiebeamptes die SAPD se dissiplinêre prosedure beleef. Tweedens, watter riglyne ontwikkel kan word sodat werknemers die SAPD se dissiplinêre prosedure as meer regverdig en billik beleef. Vanuit 'n teoretiese perspektief is gekonsentreer op die toepassing van dissipline in organisasies, asook prosessuele geregtigheid wat poog om die billikheidservaring van werknemers te beskryf Die studie was in twee fases ingedeeL Eerstens, om die polisiebeampte se belewenis van die SAPD se dissiplinêre prosedure te identifiseer en te beskryf en tweedens, om riglyne op te stel sodat die toepassing van dissipline as meer billik en regverdig beleef kan word. Die studie was kwalitatief, verkennend, beskrywend en kontekstueel van aard. Die data was ingesamel deur fenomenologiese onderhoudvoering met deelnemers van twee populasies, naamlik polisiebeamptes wat self 'n departementele tribunaal beleef het, asook kenners van die SAPD se dissiplinêre prosedure. Nadat alle data versadig was, is die onderhoude verbatim getranskribeer. Data-analise wat gebaseer is op die stappe soos beskryf deur Tesch (Cresswell, 1994), het hierna gevolg. Tydens die proses van data-analise is daar vir kontroledoeleindes, ook gebruik gemaak van die dienste van 'n onafhanklike kodeerder. Op hierdie wyse is verskillende temas, kategorieë en sub-kategorieë geïdentifiseer ten opsigte van die polisiebeampte se belewenis van die SAPD se dissiplinêre prosedure. Dit kan soos volg beskryf word: Polisielede is van mening dat daar tussen polisiebeamptes gediskrimineer word; dat die proses emosioneel uitputtend is; dat die proses onnodig ingewikkeld gemaak word met baie geringe of onnodige aanklagte; en dat daar nie konsekwente optrede tussen die verskillende rolspelers in die proses bestaan nie. Die temas, kategorieë en sub-kategorieë van die kennergroep kan soos volg vermeld word: Daar bestaan 'n gebrek aan konsekwentheid in die toepassing van die proses; sake bly uniek en word op eie meriete beoordeel; sake sloer dikwels te lank; polisiebeamptes ervaar die proses as traumaties; stasiekommissarisse ondersoek nie altyd sake behoorlik nie; en dat emosionele ondersteuning dikwels ontbreek ofverkeerd toegepas word. Daar is deurgaans aandag geskenk aan aspekte om geloofwaardigheid te verseker. 'n Literatuurkontrole is uitgevoer om die temas te bevestig. Die kennergroep se temas is ook gebruik om die polisiebeamptegroep se temas te verifieër. Riglyne vir dissiplinetoepassing, is vir bevelvoerders en toesighouers opgestel. Die riglyne is gebaseer op die data wat verkry is. Die riglyne word ondersteun deur die bestaande Dissipline- Regulasies (RSA, 1996), sowel as die Dissipline-Riglyne (SAPS, 1996) en behoort daarom met groot vrug gebruik te kan word. Aanbevelings vir die toepassing van die resultate in dissiplinepraktyke en dissipline-opleiding, asook die bevordering van navorsing gemoeid met die dissiplineparadigma is ook bespreek. Dit gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat polisiebeamptes baie spanning en frustrasie met die toepassing van die SAPD se dissiplinêre prosedure beleef, en dat dit meestalook as traumaties en emosioneel uitputtend ervaar word. Toesighouers en bevelvoerders behoort daarop ingestel te wees om dissipline meer effektief toe te pas, sodat hul werknemers die proses as meer billik en regverdig ervaar. Verder mag dit moontlik die voordeel inhou dat groter suksesse behaal word in die verandering van ongewensde gedrag en kan dit ook die moraal en organisasieklimaat van die stasie of eenheid verbeter.

Workplace violence is reported to be on the increase, and within the South African Police Service, the inherently stressful nature of policing leads to high rates of suicide and violent behaviour. Contemporary investigations of workplace violence reveal epistemological, methodological and theoretical biases towards positivistic, rational-empirical approaches resulting in partial understandings and limited scope. This study aimed to qualitatively explore workplace violence as a socially embedded act. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a primary participant and three others directly related to him in order to supplement existing understandings from a social constructionist perspective. Discourse analysis allowed for discovery of socio-historically located discursive networks, while an ethnographic or empathic technique was used to gain insight into the life worlds of participants. Discourses of organisational negligence, betrayal and concurrent discourses of group solidarity and cohesion and organisational culpability reveal a reliance on external locus of control and avoidance coping. Discourses of absolution due to another‟s involvement, retribution, justice, and innocence perverted by a stronger agency relied on strategies of justification, denial, disclaimer, excuse or apology to negotiate positive participant identities. Discourses of masculinity allowed for a corroboration, justification and maintenance of male violence in general, and social discourses of female subjugation and commodification were used as a means to deflect responsibility and as justifications for actions of violence towards women. Inherent in all discourses was a deep socially and historically embedded conception that facilitates violent action as an expression of maleness in all spheres of life. From an ethnographic or empathic perspective, participants‟ world views were polarised around masculinity and femininity, suggesting that an ability to remain unemotional in situations of turmoil is a highly-prized characteristic of maleness, especially in a hypermasculine setting such as the police. The implicit and explicit approbation for the expression of masculine stoicism, as opposed to feminine or „weaker‟ emotions, causes recruits to experience isolation and shame if unable to face traumatic situations with the requisite dispassion, leading to negative coping mechanisms, depression, and suicide or violence. The conclusion can be drawn that prevention of violence relies on extrication of the concept of violence from masculinity at ideological, cultural and social levels within the SAPS, and the concurrent reduction in justificatory discourses reliant on an external locus of control. This has considerable implications, including the radical transformation of the organisation through the development of a clear vision of the future that can be supported by management, members and the community; the empowerment of employees through active participation in decisions and development of skills through training; rigorous modification of the practices that generate inequitable social conditions; and the revolution of cultural practices that venerate and enforce gendered inequalities. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Consulting Psychology)

M.Phil. / The South African Police Service was formed in 1913 to realise the maintenance of Law and Order and hierarchies. As a result the SAPS lacked the credibility and legitimacy in the eyes of the majority of South Africans The Police Force was associated with the abuse of human rights. When the Government of national unity assumed power in 1994, they decided there was a need to restructure the service. One of the post-1994 Government's foremost tasks was to transform the Public Service into an efficient and effective instrument capable of delivering equitable services to all citizens. This necessitated that structures, management style, approaches and practices be redesigned. Restructuring the SAPS was one of the processes of transforming the service to restore the credibility and legitimacy. It is nearly seven years since the new structure was introduced. The purpose of the research is to uncover challenges brought by the new structure. An assessment of the effect of such restructuring is necessary in order to ensure that the change of direction is appropriate. It is time for the SAPS to take stock. The main findings of the research are that, the new SAPS rank structure is conducive for the effective delivery of service as well as appropriate to achieve the Mission and Vision of the SAPS. The findings, however, revealed that the new SAPS lacked discipline. Because members are not disciplined, the community does not respect police officers like before. Again, with the new ranks juniors do not respect seniors like previously. The attitude study revealed that, although a large number of members were satisfied with the fact that they were promoted, serious dissatisfaction was caused by the system of promotion, in which the rank system undoubtedly had a major role. An assumption that SAPS employees are not happy has been proven to be true. It has generally been indicated that they were happier with the previous structure than the present one. Some of their happiness was related to facilities that were now available, achievements, recognition and advancement. The dissatisfaction brought about by the new structure was related to policies, management style and administration, promotions system, advancement, supervision, security, wages, as well as relationships with fellow employees. Among the recommendations, the main one was that members of the SAPS need to recommit themselves in order to achieve a safe and secure environment for all the people of South Africa with dignity to render a responsible and effective service of high quality and continuous strive towards improving the Service.

Rape is a serious highly prevalent crime committed every day around the world, and affects both men and women. Rape victims must report the incidence to the police, and often the police they report to are male law enforcement officers. Yet many people in South Africa, including male law enforcement officers, do not fully accept that males can be and are victims of rape. So far there has been significantly little research into the reporting of male rape. Thus a qualitative research study on the attitudes of male law enforcement officers towards male rape victims was conducted. Social constructionism was taken as a theoretical starting point to the formal literature. The formal literature itself deals with male rape, how it is perceived, understood and misunderstood by society at large and specifically, by male law enforcement officers. The myths and truths, as well as stigmas associated with male rape are also explored. The impact of gender issues such as gender identity, gender roles and gender stereotypes are explored in-depth as they contribute to attitudes held by male law enforcement officers. Six male law enforcement officers from a Johannesburg police station participated in this study. Every one of them had had a certain amount of experience in the SAPS dealing with rape and rape victims. The researcher identified themes dealing with male rape victims from the literature, and interviewed the participants according to these themes using a semi-structured and structured format. The interviews were coded and analysed in a manner that allowed the themes, which were informed by the literature, to surface from the interview data itself. This is consistent with the qualitative tradition of psychological research. It was found that, male law enforcement officers’ attitudes towards male rape victims influence the way they think about and perceive these victims. It is very likely that this influence has a negative impact on the psychological well being of the male rape victim. It was also found that many male rape victims do not report their victimisation to the police as they fear they will not be taken seriously, they will be laughed at or even ridiculed. The law enforcement officers confirm that the stigma and shame of male rape victims compound their experience, making it traumatic and nearly impossible for them to process. The researcher believes that a change in these attitudes can lead to a change in the way male rape victims are perceived and treated by law enforcement officers, as well as by society as a whole. Further study into the role of cultural beliefs concerning masculinity and gender roles in the South African context can contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of male rape, and can be integrated into the current intervention models used to treat these victims. / Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

Certain individuals, such as police officers, are exposed to traumatic events as part of the occupational roles they fulfill. In order to prevent psychological illnesses; namely the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that results from work-related traumatic incidents, psychological interventions have been developed such as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences and the perceptions of police members stationed at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Head Office in Pretoria, regarding the effectiveness of Trauma Debriefing within the SAPS environment. The researcher was motivated to choose this subject as a result of the challenges he faced while working as a Psychometrist and a Debriefer within the SAPS. Furthermore, the lack of research and literature studies concerning the effectiveness of trauma debriefing motivated the researcher to conduct the study. The qualitative approach was utilized in this study, and interviews were used to gather data about the experiences and perceptions of police members regarding the effectiveness of trauma debriefing. Utilizing an interview schedule, the researcher interviewed 10 respondents who were functional members of the SAPS. A systematic sampling method was used to select suitable respondents for the study. The type of research used was that of applied research, as the intention was to answer practical questions about the effectiveness of trauma debriefing within the SAPS. The exploratory design was utilized in this study, since there was limited information about the experiences and perceptions of police members in existence. The purpose of using this design was thus to explore the perceptions and experiences of police members regarding the effectiveness of trauma debriefing in order to provide new information about the topic. The researcher believes that this research will provoke some thought about new scientific research into this field of study. A discussion on the theoretical overview on trauma debriefing focused on the goals and theories of debriefing. In addition, a theoretical overview of the debriefing model adopted by the SAPS, the benefits of debriefing, the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and critical perspectives with regard to the effectiveness of trauma debriefing. The research findings indicated that trauma debriefing has been viewed and experienced by most respondents as good. Most police members perceived trauma debriefing as effective. Furthermore, police members perceived trauma debriefing as management=s support. The research findings however also indicated that trauma debriefing should be pro-active rather than reactive. Some respondents felt that debriefing should include an element of monitoring members, in order to check their progress. In addition, the study showed that there is a lack of follow-up services to debriefing cases attended. / Dissertation (MSoc.Sci (Employee Assistance Programme))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work / unrestricted