Police application forms and dealing with the bullying question Q1.
May 7th, 2009I know this is a favourite topic of mine, but I do despair about how police assessment centre candidates answer questions or deal with role play situations involving inappropriate behaviour. We check literally dozens of forms that describe how the candidate has overheard inappropriate remarks made in public over a period of a few days or weeks, so they wait until they can speak to the victim to see what they want to happen. Having done so, they then have a word with the offender to tell them to stop it, as it is not very nice. This is completely wrong. Think about it. To begin with, why wait? Inappropriate behaviour MUST be challenged there and then. If you wait, you are effectively condoning it, and the victim probably has to put up with more of the same treatment. This is YOUR fault, as you could have stopped it had you acted earlier. Then speaking to the victim. Why do this? If the victim says they want no action taking, would you leave the matter there? Hopefully not, so why speak to them (other than afterwards to explain why you did what you did and offer support). Finally, why speak to the offender in private? You should challenge them in public at once, so that they know immediately their behaviour is unacceptable. The victim knows you are supporting them. Any witnesses will know that if they use the same kind of behaviour you will challenge them. You are also setting an example. Speaking to the offender in private does away with all these advantages. If they get embarrassed because they are challenged over a sexist remark, that is more incentive not to make such a remark again.
Taking any other form of action is soft soaping things, and shows us that you probably have little moral courage. We are looking for people at assessment who would challenge at once, so you need to show us you can play the game. If you do not understand this, you will fail. Police interviews and assessments are designed to test your moral courage, and your ability to behave ethically, and you must understand this.
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