Description:
While many benefits of women in policing have been recognised, sworn female officers have remained mostly underrepresented within the workforce. Recently, policing organisations have sought to rectify this with the implementation of gender targets. However, this aim to increase female officers has been met with resistance and scepticism. This study examines the main support and concerns held by the public regarding women in policing. To do this, 3562 phrases within 3210 public comments were thematically analysed from an Australian Federal Police Facebook recruitment campaign that targeted women. Results showed that most of the comments were positive in nature with three main themes emerging: individual, institutional, and societal perspectives. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there appears to be a shift in public opinions from individual perspective concerns (such as emotional and physical capabilities) to a societal perspective including the balancing of power and the breaking of chains. These findings help to inform policing authorities in the design of gender target campaigns and strategies. Specifically, by knowing the public concerns about women in policing, authorities can address these concerns by rethinking policies and practices, and educating the public about any common misconceptions about female officers. Furthermore, the supportive reasons can be used to promote positive relationships between police and the community enhancing trust and confidence in the police.