En kvalitativ undersøgelse af organisatorisk (u)retfærdighed i hjemmehørende betjentes beretninger om at forlade Grønlands Politi
(2024) SOCM05 20241Sociology
- Abstract
- In 2009, the Greenlandic population voted for full autonomy from Denmark; however, certain areas such as foreign and defense policy remain under Danish jurisdiction, with Denmark administering specific sectors, including the police force. Consequently, the Greenlandic Police is organized as a district within the Danish Police, resulting in a distinct structure that integrates both Greenlandic and Danish officers, employed under separate collective agreements. In recent decades, police organizations globally have faced challenges in retaining staff and attracting new recruits. This issue is evident in the Greenlandic Police, where the number of Greenlandic officers decreased by one-third between 2014 and 2023.
This study employs the... (More) - In 2009, the Greenlandic population voted for full autonomy from Denmark; however, certain areas such as foreign and defense policy remain under Danish jurisdiction, with Denmark administering specific sectors, including the police force. Consequently, the Greenlandic Police is organized as a district within the Danish Police, resulting in a distinct structure that integrates both Greenlandic and Danish officers, employed under separate collective agreements. In recent decades, police organizations globally have faced challenges in retaining staff and attracting new recruits. This issue is evident in the Greenlandic Police, where the number of Greenlandic officers decreased by one-third between 2014 and 2023.
This study employs the conceptual framework of organizational justice, encompassing both distributive and procedural dimensions, to qualitatively analyze voluntary resignations from the police in Greenland. The findings reveal that those who voluntarily left the police service experienced various forms of injustice within the organization, with these perceptions closely tied to the officers' sense of value, pride, and respect as members of the organization. This article contributes to the limited academic literature on organizational justice within policing organizations from a qualitative perspective. Furthermore, it offers an enhanced understanding of when and how organizational (in)justice manifests itself in a police organization operating under extraordinary circumstances. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- In recent decades, police organizations worldwide have struggled to retain officers and attract new recruits, a trend also seen in the Greenlandic police. From 2014 to 2023, one-third of Greenlandic officers left the force.
Greenland, the world’s largest island with only 56,000 inhabitants, presents unique policing challenges. Its harsh, isolated environment, with 18 scattered police stations accessible only by boat and plane, complicates the maintenance of a functional police force. The Greenlandic Police relies heavily on Danish officers who periodically travel to Greenland to assist. However, as the number of Greenlandic officers decreases, the proportion of Danish officers, often lacking a knowledge of Greenlandic language and... (More) - In recent decades, police organizations worldwide have struggled to retain officers and attract new recruits, a trend also seen in the Greenlandic police. From 2014 to 2023, one-third of Greenlandic officers left the force.
Greenland, the world’s largest island with only 56,000 inhabitants, presents unique policing challenges. Its harsh, isolated environment, with 18 scattered police stations accessible only by boat and plane, complicates the maintenance of a functional police force. The Greenlandic Police relies heavily on Danish officers who periodically travel to Greenland to assist. However, as the number of Greenlandic officers decreases, the proportion of Danish officers, often lacking a knowledge of Greenlandic language and culture, increases. This creates significant challenges in a society where local norms and language play a central role in police work. Additionally, the police force is segregated by two different collective agreements for the Greenlandic and Danish officers, leading to disparities, such as lower pay for Greenlandic officers compared to their Danish counterparts.
This study focuses on why Greenlandic officers have left their jobs through 12 interviews with Greenlandic officers who left the organization between 2014 and 2024. The analysis highlights two key themes: the contextual challenges of working as a police officer in Greenland and a profound sense of unfair treatment. The perception of (un)fairness is explored using the concept of organizational justice. The results show that Greenlandic officers experience an unequal distribution of tasks. They are frequently required to interpret for Danish colleagues and feel compelled to handle a broader range of responsibilities due to their experience in Greenland’s unique policing environment. This, combined with a structural inequality in wages, fosters a deeply rooted sense of injustice, which results in a feeling of not being valued or recognized as a member of the group. Additionally, former Greenlandic officers describe feeling like a member of the "B-team" in the Greenlandic Police due to unsuccessful decades-long efforts to achieve parity with their Danish colleagues, and the perception that the Greenlandic Police is under-prioritized by the rest of the Danish Police organization. This feeling leads to a diminished sense of pride and respect within the organization, which, according to existing literature, weakens engagement and identification with the organization. Together, these findings provide a nuanced insight into one the elements that influence Greenlandic officers’ decision to leave the police force. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9174710
- author
- Andresen, Barbara Elberg LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SOCM05 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Organizational justice, police retention, voluntary resignation, Greenland Police, rural policing
- language
- Danish
- id
- 9174710
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-16 08:49:22
- date last changed
- 2024-09-16 08:49:22
@misc{9174710,
abstract = {{In 2009, the Greenlandic population voted for full autonomy from Denmark; however, certain areas such as foreign and defense policy remain under Danish jurisdiction, with Denmark administering specific sectors, including the police force. Consequently, the Greenlandic Police is organized as a district within the Danish Police, resulting in a distinct structure that integrates both Greenlandic and Danish officers, employed under separate collective agreements. In recent decades, police organizations globally have faced challenges in retaining staff and attracting new recruits. This issue is evident in the Greenlandic Police, where the number of Greenlandic officers decreased by one-third between 2014 and 2023.
This study employs the conceptual framework of organizational justice, encompassing both distributive and procedural dimensions, to qualitatively analyze voluntary resignations from the police in Greenland. The findings reveal that those who voluntarily left the police service experienced various forms of injustice within the organization, with these perceptions closely tied to the officers' sense of value, pride, and respect as members of the organization. This article contributes to the limited academic literature on organizational justice within policing organizations from a qualitative perspective. Furthermore, it offers an enhanced understanding of when and how organizational (in)justice manifests itself in a police organization operating under extraordinary circumstances.}},
author = {{Andresen, Barbara Elberg}},
language = {{dan}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{En kvalitativ undersøgelse af organisatorisk (u)retfærdighed i hjemmehørende betjentes beretninger om at forlade Grønlands Politi}},
year = {{2024}},
}