title: Child abuse investigation: police officers and secondary traumatic stress.
abstract: Child protection is an area of police work which has expanded in the last decade, leading to an increase in the number of police officers working in departments which specialise in investigating cases of child abuse. Police officers in this field may be at greater risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress but there remains a paucity of research in this area of policing. Analogies can be drawn to existing research in policing and with social service workers involved in child protection. The paper finishes off with implications for police forces to ensure safe working environments and appropriate counselling for employees.
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Social Work and Community Education, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Alison D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Maceachern
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jindal-Snape
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D016495:Police; D012944:Social Support; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological