Force, stress, and decision-making within the Belgian police : the impact of stressful situations on police decision-making

Stress and fear are inevitable aspects of the police job, and may have a large impact on police officers’ decision making process. Many studies have explored how stress and fear may influence assessments of police officers, especially with regard to the use of force. This article aims to contribute to this research domain by reporting the findings from two empirical studies amongst Belgian police officers: a quantitative study of police officers’ attitudes towards and experiences with the use of force; and a qualitative study on the influence of stress and emotions on officers’ decision making and assessment abilities and accuracy of shooting. Both studies confirmed that stress and fear are often present in Belgian police practice. One of the main findings is that Belgian police officers are anxious about the consequences of their actions because they know they will be held accountable for them. The pressure that results from this accountability can make it even more difficult for police officers to react to stressful situations. Therefore, we need to look for the right balance in this difficult position, by providing tools that support police officers in making daily decisions and help them do their job as effectively as possible