From Blue Heelers to Rifle Wielders: Exploring change within police and the progression and meaning of police militarisation in Australia

Abstract

The last decade has seen policing issues thrust into the public consciousness and academic discourse. An underexamined issue is the militarisation of Australian police. Academic exploration of the matter in an Australian context has not matched these trends. The objective of this study was to build on the limited body of research that examines police militarisation in Australia, explore the extent of police militarisation in Australia, and determine what factors contribute to police militarisation in Australia. Using qualitative semi-structured interviews with Australian Federal Police members, and examining police professional journals, a reflexive thematic analysis explored the key factors that contribute to police militarisation in Australia. Results suggested that police discretion is a key divider in police militarisation, terrorism and policing cultures contribute to the militarisation of police, the socio-political environment dictates the necessity for militarisation, and contention remains over the meaning and definition of police militarisation. The extent of police militarisation in Australia, however, remains low. Show more