Exploring the 'Copper's Nose' and the discourse surrounding its perceived existence, value and impact on policing in the UK

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Within policing, there exists a discourse surrounding an orthodox phenomenon: that police officers have intuition beyond the comprehension of their non-police officer civilian counterparts, colloquially known as the 'Copper's Nose'. Lacking informal definition, and without valid operating parameters, the application of this phenomenon into practice is unsystematic, undocumented and at odds with EBP discourse. The proposed thesis will use qualitative methods to conduct a large-scale study exploring the views of serving UK police officers on their understanding of the term, the 'Copper's Nose', and would record formally, for the first time anywhere in the world, the perceived existence of the 'Copper's Nose' as a specific and recognised term in policing. By documenting the existence of the phenomenon, an invaluable roadmap is produced from which recalcitrance of officers to engage in EBP discourse can be addressed; previously undocumented cultural impacts can be measured; and the decision-making of police officers better accounted for. Further, by producing a formal definition of the 'Copper's Nose' alongside a concept model, conscious awareness would be encouraged which, based on existing research, would lead to improved speed, accuracy and confidence in decision-making, whilst ensuring accountability and enhancing safeguarding. The proposal has gained the interest of several UK forces and the College of Policing, with wider scope to collaborate internationally.