Researching deaths after police contact: challenges and solutions
| Date | 14 March 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-08-2015-0036 |
| Published date | 14 March 2016 |
| Pages | 15-27 |
| Author | David Baker |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Researching deaths after police contact:
challenges and solutions
David Baker
David Baker is based at
Coventry University,
Coventry, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to consider the methodological challenges to researching deaths
after police contact in England and Wales. It proposes original and innovative solutions to these challenges.
Design/methodology/approach –Challenges such as access to data, sensitivity, limited academic
literature and bias are considered. Designs to counter these challenges include using documentary data and
examining events in one organisation through the prism of an adjacent organisation.
Findings –Subjects that are contentious and difficult to access can be researched by searching for a “way
into”the key issues by using non-traditional data and an innovative approach.
Research limitations/implications –The implications of this paper are that other difficult to research areas
of society might be accessed by using the approaches outlined.
Practical implications –The practical implications of the research are to highlight the usefulness of
documentary data in researching issues relating to police and court proceedings.
Social implications –The research has impact because it demonstrates how research might be
undertaken into contentious and difficult to research issues that are relevant to society. This may enable the
formulation of future policy based on such research.
Originality/value –The research is of value because it demonstrates how obstacles to researching difficult
to access areas of interest to criminology may be surmounted.
Keywords Narrative verdicts, Death after police contact, Documentary data, Access to research,
Researching public organizations
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
How does one researcha contentiousand sensitive subject when issues of access,potential bias
and lack of available literature appear to represent insurmountable obstacles? This paper argues
that such obstacles might be navigated by employing an original research perspective to the
subject and by using a non-traditional corpus of data.In combination these can enable a “way in”
to a difficult to research area that is of significant interest to society. One of the goals of
criminological research should be to cast light on contentious issues, not use obstacles as a
justification to shy away from them. The paper charts the methodological underpinnings and
practicaldata collection methods ofa study which sought to investigatedeaths after policecontact
(DAPC) in Englandand Wales in the period 2004-2013.It examined how organisations mighthold
police toaccount in such cases. The issueof DAPC is of particular relevanceto society as it reflects
concerns about equality, fairness, human rights, police powers and accountability.
Significant challenges in terms of access and sensitivity in relation to the subject of DAPC
minimise the possibility of empirical research into the police in relation to deaths after contact with
citizens. Therefore the approach taken was to research the coroner’s court system in England
and Wales rather than directly researching the police. In this sense, the activities of one public
Received 15 August 2015
Revised 8 November 2015
9 November 2015
Accepted 10 November 2015
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-08-2015-0036 VOL. 2 NO. 1 2016, pp.15-27, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICALRESEARCH, POLICYAND PRACTICE
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