Chapter 2: Literature review and theoretical framework
2.2 Burnout and stress in policing
According to Helfrich (2007), in 2007, 2, 2 million incidents of crime were reported to the South African Police Service. During the year 2005 until 2006 crime rate incidents increased by 76%
and 585 police officials were killed in the years between 2001 – 2006 (Naidoo, 2006; SAPS, 2006).
These incidents contributed to the experience of stress among police officers (Naidoo, 2006;
“Stress taking”, 2006) because they were forced to attend more crime scenes and to work more hours to cover for their colleagues who had died or were injured (Breytenbach, 2009). Between the years 2006 – 2011 more police officers were murdered and this added to the existing pressure on police officials which resulted in stress and low performance (“Police under pressure”, 2011).
In addition, minister of police Mr BH Cele declared that the South African Police Service has undergone a great loss of police officers in a deliberate attack at Engcobo police station, in the Eastern Cape Province. “This was followed by several incidents of continued brutal and senseless killing of police officers” (South African Police Service Annual Report, 2017/2018, p.6).
Moreover, statistics show that “a total number of 85 police members were murdered on and off duty, during 2017/2018, including 29 members on duty and 56 members off duty, compared to 83, in 2016/2017” (South African Police Service Annual Report, 2017/2018, p.14). It was also
24 discovered that, “In the SAPS, the incidence of injuries sustained while on duty among police officers was 4.7, 6.8 and 4.3% for 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16, respectively” (Mona, Chimbari and Hongoro, 2019 p. 15). According to Haisch and Meyers (2004) these incidents then may lead to trauma which can result to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Jones and Kagee (2005) argue that police personnel in general, and in South Africa in particular, are exposed to various duty-related stressors that are significantly different, in terms of quality and quantity to those experienced by the general population. In addition, Shane (2010) conducted a study among 461 police officers from two departments in Michigan and New Jersey to examine the impact of organisational stressors on police performance. The findings of the above research were largely in line with previous researchers which suggest several factors i.e., bureaucracy, management and organisational capacity of police organisations are sources of stress that subsequently leads to lower performance from workers. On the other hand, a study conducted by Gulle et al. (1998) of 91 SAPS members in the Cape Peninsula, showed that in comparison to stressors reported by police in the United States, most of which were inherent in the nature of the job, South African Police stressors were more organisationally oriented. In addition, the findings of this research further indicated that the sample drawn in South Africa indicate higher levels of stress when being compared to the sample drawn in the United States of America (USA). The results further indicated that the pressure placed on South African Police Officers is affecting employees negatively. In addition to the above, “a study conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) among London police officers revealed that 46% of police officers reported work to be extremely stressful” (Mona, Chimbari and Hongoro, 2019 p. 15).
According to Mostert and Joubert (2005), the negative effects of job stress on employees and their work are such that it is necessary to explore the processes involved when job stress is studied.
Rothmann and Jorgensen (2007) conducted a study to explore the sources of stress experienced by police officers of the Local Criminal Record Centre in the SAPS. The results revealed stressors including staff shortages, excessive paperwork, inadequate or poor quality equipment, working unsociable hours and exposure to violent situations. In addition to the above, Lanagam- Fox, Deery and Van Vliet (1997) have found in their research that the relationship with police officers, long working hours, poor salaries, problems with clients, bureaucratic meddling and poor opportunity
25 for promotion were the most relevant causes of burnout. Similarly, in their review of the literature Mona, Chimbari and Hongoro (2019) discovered that “a study among 497 Israeli border police, revealed that lack of resources, low salary and workoverload were common stressors in the workplace” (p. 15). It has been argued further by Arter (2008), that the effects of formal pressure from police organisations and pressures generated by the police subculture often lead police to experience a great deal of stress in their occupational, social, and family lives, resulting in cynicism, burnout, and retirement on the job, as well as a host of physical and emotional ailments.
Furthermore, another South African study investigating stress among police officers in the SAPS identified high job demands and the lack of resources as being the main sources of stress (Meyer, Rothmann, and Pienaar, 2003). In addition, a study that was conducted in the United states of America with 365 participants’ ‘police officers’ showed more risk of post-traumatic stress disorder between the law enforcement members, because of life threatening situations they come across to (Mona, Chimbari, and Hongoro, 2019). Indeed, as the literature indicates, the nature of police work is acknowledged as highly stressful and particularly hazardous (Selye 1978; Alexander, 1999;
Anshel, 2000; Paton and Violanti, 1999).
Nel and Burgers (1996) argue that the South African Police Service is not united anymore, and does not offer support to its employees. Most police officers find it difficult to adjust to the new changes that occurred after 1994 and as a result they experience stress. According McCafferty (1992) some police officers end up killing themselves because of the experience of stress in the workplace. Other researchers also discovered that law enforcement members have suicidal thoughts (Pienaar, Rothmann, and van de Vijver, 2007) as a result of their work, which is the biggest concern in the South African Police Service (de Wet, 2004; Rothmann and Van Rensburg, 2002; Storm and Rothmann, 2003). Sa Joe (2003) reported that the extensive job stress, which includes being constantly exposed to criminal activities and violence, is one of the main reasons for suicide. Furthermore, according to Rothmann and van Rensburg (2002) suicidal behaviour may be considered a psychological disturbance and is associated with potentially severe mental and/or physical health outcomes. Suicidal behaviour can be plotted on a continuum varying in severity from thinking about it, through to intent, and finally an attempt to actual completion (Reynolds, 1991a).
26 Recent studies suggest that it is possible for individuals to cope with stress, but then it is a long term process it does not happen overnight (Folkman, 2011b). People tend to use coping methods in order to manage stressful situations, circumstances and emotions (Folkman, 2011b). Other studies have also shown that law enforcement employees find it difficult to adjust to the demands placed on them physically and emotionally (Harsh and Meyers, 2004; Sunndaram and Kuruman, 2012; Waters and Ussery, 2007). Thus, some of the employees end up using substances such as alcohol and drugs just to avoid the situation (SAPS, 2011; “Traumatised cops turning to the bottle, says study”, 2011).
My study differs from these studies, in that the aim of this study is to explore burnout among police officers in the South African Police Service in the Elukwatini SAPS, Mpumalanga province. The motivation for this study was the lack of research relating to this topic, specifically within the South African context. The research would be of benefit to the SAPS as it contributes to knowledge and further understanding of the functioning of police officials in stressful situations.