Police use of force encounters can be volatile and unpredictable events that often require officers to make difficult decisions about force.  This presentation discusses the results of a research project that examined how to better prepare officers for making use of force decisions during police-citizen encounters.  To do this, four individual studies were conducted utilising data on police officers in Queensland.  Combined, the studies revealed that, beyond specific factors, it is how officers interpret and respond to certain circumstances that plays a substantial role in the outcomes of police use of force encounters.  These findings shift the focus from previous research that examined discrete and common individual and situational factors to a more holistic approach inclusive of officers’ cognition.  The findings are discussed in terms of implications for the way officers are educated and trained, and the policies and procedures that guide officers in use of force decisions.

Further information can be found on her ANU Research Profile Page: https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/hine-k