Issues of religious diversity affecting visible minority ethnic police personnel in the work place

This thesis focuses on issues of religious diversity affecting police personnel in the workplace. The importance of these issues became apparent as a consequence of research, which I had previously undertaken. In 1995, I succeeded in gaining a Police Research Group Award to investigate chaplaincy within the police service. The research led to the publication of Police Chaplaincy – Servant to the Service. The paper was well received, but criticised for its lack of references to multi-faith chaplaincy to the police service. It was an appropriate criticism, especially as it became apparent that no previous research had addressed this issue. Initial investigation revealed that little, if any, analysis had been offered concerning the wider religious needs of police personnel recruited from the multi-cultural and religiously diverse society of Britain. Research into multi-faith chaplaincy to the police service was only one issue in the overall consideration of the religious needs of police personnel. The focus of my research thesis was therefore determined. The research would examine the multi-faceted issues of religious diversity affecting visible minority ethnic police personnel in the workplace specifically from 1995 to December 2003. This thesis neither engages in theological / philosophical debates concerning the encounter between religions, nor concentrates on theoretical / conceptual discussions. Its primary concern is to augment such discussion with practical and contextual issues that are highlighted in the complex sociological, political and economical contexts of the police service and similar institutions. The research offers a comprehensive and contextual examination of issues of religious diversity which impact on the police service; these issues include ethnicity, religious discrimination, employment law, policy and practice. As these concerns have not been previously examined in such contextual detail, the thesis will contribute to an academic understanding of issues that impact on religious diversity in the working environment and enhance the development of the multi-ethnic society of Britain. As the analysis makes recommendations, the research also offers a useful resource to those responsible for the creation of policies that directly relate to the employment of minority ethnic personnel within the police service. The research is consequently of benefit to the police service and other service providers.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

d_ph

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

d_ph

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Birmingham

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Armitage, Richard Norris

• HT Communities. Classes. Races
• BL Religion

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/44/2/Decl_IS_Armitage07PhD.GIF

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etheses.bham.ac.uk:44