Citation

Mapstone R. Br. J. Criminol. 1992; 32(2): 183-192.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper outlines the results of research into the attitudes of part-time members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). Part-time officers represent almost 20 per cent of the RUC's total manpower. Their views therefore offer an important insight into the larger force. The RUC operates in a society fundamentally divided on a range of political and social attitudes. A consequence is that the RUC is often subject to the criticism that it does not reflect the views of Northern Ireland society and therefore lacks impartiality. This paper examines these criticisms by exploring the religious composition of the part-time force and the differences that exist within the force in social attitudes; where appropriate, it makes comparisons with Northern Ireland society as a whole. Results reveal a predominantly Protestant part-time force that closely resembles the Protestant population in its social attitudes. By contrast, the views of Catholic members of the part-time force are often in marked contrast to those of the Catholic community and conform more readily to a predominantly Protestant occupational culture. This imposes upon the Catholic part-time officer of major process of detachment from the Catholic community.