Re-thinking police specialism in England and Wales

: developing a mixed-methods constructivist grounded theory framework to inform RASSO specialism

Abstract

Police constabularies in England and Wales have faced sustained criticism for what has been described as the decriminalisation of rape, raising fundamental concerns about their legitimacy and capacity to investigate sex offences effectively. Over several decades, reviews, academic research and police-academic collaborations, such as Operation Soteria, have identified systemic weaknesses in the policing of rape and serious sex offences (RASSO), emphasising limited specialist capability, high victim attrition, and low charge rates. Specialist training has been suggested as a possible solution to improve police effectiveness, but the concept of specialism remains under-defined in research and organisational practice. This thesis addresses this gap by developing an empirically grounded theoretical framework of police specialism as an underprioritised organisational construct, and by using insights from such framework to offer RASSO-specific recommendations. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, the study draws data from 338 current, former, and retired officers across various ranks and roles. Guided by Constructivist Grounded Theory and Systems Thinking, the research progressed iteratively from a broad exploration of specialism across policing in England and Wales, towards a focused analysis of RASSO specialism. The three studies allowed for the identification of structural, professional, and organisational conditions that can enable or constrain the effective implementation of specialism in policing. The findings showed that specialist roles and units are often implemented without clear national guidance, coherent career pathways, and recognition. Participants discussed discrepancies between performance-based expectations of specialist practice and the lack of sustained support for specialist provision beyond training, to develop and retain specialist expertise. Rather than positioning officers’ well-being or intrinsic job satisfaction as alternatives to measurable performance, the findings argue that role clarity, more manageable workloads, and specialism recognition function as organisational preconditions to effective and sustainable specialist practice. When these conditions were absent, specialist capability was described as fragile, reactive, and difficult to maintain. In defining specialism for the first time, officers also distinguished between general specialist work and RASSO specialism; with the former including crime-specific technical expertise, and the latter seen to require additional interpersonal competencies, trauma-informed practice, and sensitivity to victim engagement. For both domains, officers reported ambiguity regarding national, legislative, and force-specific guidance and expectations for specialist practice; arguing that such ambiguity undermines service quality, consistency, and public confidence. By systematically theorising police specialism and examining RASSO as a key example of broader specialist practice, the thesis moves beyond calls for more training or resources, providing an evidence-based account of how specialism could be rethought to enhance investigative effectiveness and the institutional legitimacy of police work.

Date of Award	Jun 2026
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton
Supervisor	Dr Miranda Horvath (Supervisor)