{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.019775280898876403, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.132231404958677, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Police Professionalism: Problems and Issues in Upgrading an Occupation

Introduction Police officers assuming 'professional' status in the commonly accepted usage of the term 'professionalism' is an idea which has been debated for some time in Australia and is now gaining momentum. Similar to the way the nursing profession developed some years ago, police forces and their associations have been analysing the pros and cons of becoming a recognized profession. Policing and nursing have many similarities, both are human service organizations, both have a practical orientation, and both occupants have had a tradition of training their members mainly on the job. However, during the last few years the nursing profession has undergone a dramatic change in the way its members are trained and inducted. The older style, hospital-based training programs have now given way to degree programs at university level. At the present time, police forces in Australia are undergoing very much the same experience. Police at all levels, from senior commissioned officer to probationary constable, are hearing the phrase 'police professionalism' in relation to their occupation. The question to be addressed now is how does an occupation, e.g. a police force acquire full professional status? One method is to develop courses of study or degree programs based on a formula acceptable to all the interested parties, i.e. the police, the academic institutions, the employing authorities, and the general public. A number of tertiary institutions in Australia are now offering policemanagement or criminal justice related courses. These institutions in providing programs and courses at the tertiary level will eventually help to bring about a change in the professional status of police. The Australian Police Staff College at Manly, New South Wales, could also playa role here. This College has a dual role in that it provides an introduction to management/executive training in a supportive environment, and at the same time fulfils the role of a selection or screening agency for the various home forces. Attendance at a course usually means that the participating officers progress up the hierarchy upon return to their own forces.