‘A wicked problem’? risk assessment and decision-making when licensing possession and use of firearms in Greater London

Journal article

Bryant, R. and Arditti, R. 2018. ‘A wicked problem’? risk assessment and decision-making when licensing possession and use of firearms in Greater London. The Police Journal. 0 (0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X18797992
AuthorsBryant, R. and Arditti, R.
Abstract

This paper analyses the risk assessment and decision-making used by a police force to assess the suitability of a person to own a firearm. The decision to grant a firearms licence has many characteristics of a ‘wicked problem’. Firearms Enquiries Officers (FEOs) in the police force concerned primarily use professional judgement to solve this problem, employing various forms of reasoning and heuristics, but potentially also prone to cognitive bias.

We conclude with some observations on how training of FEOs and their supervisors in risk assessment and decision-making might be further developed.

KeywordsFirearms licensing; police risk assessment; police decision-making
Year2018
JournalThe Police Journal
Journal citation0 (0)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X18797992
FunderFaculty of Social & Applied Sciences (QR)
Publication dates
Online12 Sep 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited12 Sep 2018
Accepted10 Aug 2018
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
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https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/88w96/-a-wicked-problem-risk-assessment-and-decision-making-when-licensing-possession-and-use-of-firearms-in-greater-london

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