Communication Skills, Problem Solving and Managing Conflict

A fundamental for everyday life, effective verbal and non-verbal communication has always been a cornerstone of effective policing which is in use every day interacting with colleagues sharing information or with the wider general public whilst employed within response policing. There is also an ongoing need for police officers to be able to both solve problems and deal effectively with conflict, often when faced with challenging situations. Written by those who have experienced the front line of policing, the chapter reflects on professional policing practice, the requirement for effective communication whilst proposing models for decision making and dealing with conflict. As a result, the chapter blends a number of inter-related topics, which are intrinsic to policing within contemporary society.