Exploring the trust relationship between police incident commanders and their tactical advisors

: a qualitative study relative to crisis and hostage negotiators coordinators

Abstract

This thesis explored the trust relationship between a Police Incident Commander and their Tactical Advisors. Specifically, a hostage and crisis Negotiator Coordinator during operational deployments at policing incidents. Trust was researched by conducting qualitative semi structured interviews of currently serving Negotiator Coordinators and retired senior Police Commanders.

The research methodology of New Phenomenology was utilised to investigate the subjective lived experiences of retired Police Commanders and currently serving Negotiator Coordinators. Using the conceptual framework of subjectivist inductive research to explore the working relationship between both actors. The data was analysed within the methodological approach of Interpretative Phenomenological analysis. It was evident from the research that there was very much a working relationship between Police Commanders and their Negotiator Coordinators, with a key condition being that it embodies trust as defined by (Mayer et al 1995) during a critical or major policing incident. This trust relationship is enabled by a variety of means between both actors, from advanced preparation to ‘thin slicing’ for example. It was highlighted that both actors aspire to attain trust, utilising their own self-taught techniques to create a working relationship incorporating trust. However, it was also ascertained from the research data collected that there are also barriers present during the relationship creation at zero acquaintance interactions. When the fragility of swift trust (Meyerson et al 1996) is tested, being placed under scrutiny by occupational culture and bias. Thereby impacting on the working relationship of both actors and the advice offered seemingly being discounted for more direct coercive action.

Overall, the research findings strongly suggest that trust was indeed a fundamental requirement and condition of the social exchange relationship between both actors. Trust was seen as a necessary driver by a Police Commander for a successful and positive collaboration during an operational policing deployment. It was deemed imperative that by Police Command decision makers in whatever incident they encounter is to have the utmost trust in their specialist tactical advisors and advice offered.

Date of Award	18 Jun 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Abertay University
Supervisor	William Graham (Supervisor) & Wallace McNeish (Supervisor)