Experiences of policing also communicate messages about ‘ belonging ’ to a group and ‘ status ’ within that group ¹ ². Individuals want to be able to see themselves as part of the ‘ in-group ’ rather than the ‘ out-group ’ so look for signs that the police represent ‘ people like them ’ and share their concerns . This can be a difficult when we are challenging the behaviour of a significant group within society such as drivers , and means that careful messaging is crucial . There are connections here to the social norms discussion on page 63 and the ideas surrounding social pressure associated with the Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned Behaviour ( see pages 19-20 ).
Roads policing offers lots of opportunities for procedurally just experiences , whether those are direct ( perhaps during traffic stops or during court processes ) indirect ( perhaps via social media , or written correspondence with drivers ) or vicarious ( where the experiences of others are witnessed ).
Wherever there are opportunities for engagement with members of the public , there are opportunities for communicating a message about the legitimacy and fairness of the authorities . Given the potential for roads policing to generate large numbers of these encounters , we need to think carefully about the messages we send out and make sure that our behaviour increases normative commitment to the law rather than undermines it .
Research has suggested that speed cameras are seen , by some , as lacking in procedural justice . Whilst they are undeniably consistent and neutral , they could be seen as unfair because they lack opportunities to voice , and can be seen as disrespectful of the individual circumstances of each offence and each offender ³.
Several of our Accessible Academics ( p151-160 ) have expertise in procedural justice in roads policing and would be happy to help you understand how to put these principles into practice .
¹ Wells , H . and Wills , D ., ( 2012 ). Individualism and identity : Resistance to speed cameras in the UK . ² Bradford , B ., Hohl , K ., Jackson , J . and MacQueen , S . ( 2015 ). Obeying the rules of the road : Procedural justice , social identity , and normative compliance .
Journal of contemporary criminal justice , 31 ( 2 ), pp . 171-191 . ³ Wells , H ., ( 2008 ). The techno-fix versus the fair cop : Procedural ( in ) justice and automated speed limit enforcement . The British Journal of Criminology , 48 ( 6 ), pp . 798-817 .
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