CRITICAL REVIEW OF MANCHESTER ARENA TERROR ATTACK
CRITICAL REVIEW OF MANCHESTER ARENA TERROR ATTACK
Table of Contents
TOC o "1-3" h z u 1 Critical Review of Manchester Arena Terror Attack PAGEREF _Toc166619886 h 31.0 About Manchester Arena Terror Attack PAGEREF _Toc166619887 h 32.0 Community Engagement and Role of Policing in Achieving Community Cohesion PAGEREF _Toc166619888 h 32.1 The Effects of Community Participation and Improvements PAGEREF _Toc166619889 h 32.2 The Role of Policing in Achieving Community Cohesion PAGEREF _Toc166619890 h 43.0 Role and Responsibilities of Officers PAGEREF _Toc166619891 h 53.1 About Critical Incidents PAGEREF _Toc166619892 h 53.2 Critical Considerations at High-Profile Incidents PAGEREF _Toc166619893 h 54.0 Impact of Human Behavior on Policing Operations PAGEREF _Toc166619894 h 64.1 Occupational Culture in Policing PAGEREF _Toc166619895 h 64.2 Research on Police Occupational Culture and Incident Management PAGEREF _Toc166619896 h 74.3 Impact on Public Perception PAGEREF _Toc166619897 h 75.0 Impact of Diverse Community on Policing and the Criminal Justice System PAGEREF _Toc166619898 h 86.0 Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc166619899 h 9Reference List PAGEREF _Toc166619900 h 10
1 Critical Review of Manchester Arena Terror Attack
1.0 About Manchester Arena Terror Attack
In the Manchester Arena foyer on May 22, 2017, Salman Abedi planted a homemade bomb after an Ariana Grande concert. The Manchester Arena incident was terrorism. On May 22, 2017, it happened. This accident killed 22 individuals and injured hundreds. Sir John Saunders' public investigation revealed this. The Secret Service MI5 squandered vital intelligence opportunities that may have saved the day. Investigations concluded that Abedi's relatives radicalised him. The investigation also stated that someone in Libya may have offered help. MI5's director-general remorsefully claimed they should have acted on their intelligence (BBC, 2023).
The incident at Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017, after a terrorist attack, can be used to analyse community engagement, policing, and community cohesiveness. This tragedy is a case study of these three components' interaction. The investigation found some possibilities overlooked. Due to the inquiry, several opportunities were missed.
2.0 Community Engagement and Role of Policing in Achieving Community Cohesion2.1 The Effects of Community Participation and Improvements
The response to the Manchester Arena assault on May 22, 2017, showed community participation before, during, and after the tragedy. Before the attack, the Manchester City Council and its allies launched the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum (GMRF) and the RADEQUAL campaign to enhance community resilience against extremism (Tahar et al., 2023). Both programs promoted community resilience. Individual community participation was the goal of these frameworks.
Community Engagement During and After the Incident:
Early after the disaster, the community was involved and helped. Manchester City Council held a vigil in Albert Square the day after the attack to show solidarity and mourning, lasting until the next day. Manchester City Council organised the event. Council officers also hosted open gatherings to listen to community concerns and show their proactive commitment to community participation. They did this to show their action.
In addition, the council worked closely with the Greater Manchester Police to address community concerns and maintain public safety. Ward councillors helped people affected by the assault and subsequent police raids, especially in affected areas. Police and municipality collaboration on safeguarding young concertgoers without adults and their families underlined the necessity for community participation (Walton and Falkner, 2020).
Influence and Improvement:
The community participation project made residents feel more engaged and supportive. The "We Love Manchester" fund was quickly created, and victims received financial aid, helping the town recover from tragedy. However, several things might have been improved. Despite the solid first response, the involvement may have continued to address the community's psychological effects (Lambert and Parsons, 2020). The immediate response was sufficient, but more persistent attempts to maintain community cohesiveness over time may have improved it. Overall involvement was adequate. Follow-up events, mental health support, and educational activities helped build community relationships and resolve issues. Community involvement would have made this possible. Police community participation may build trust and teamwork, preventing recurrences by creating a culture of vigilance and mutual support (Fenn & Brunton-Smith, 2021). It would be beneficial. However, community participation may alienate certain community groups if it seems fake or obtrusive, which is a possible disadvantage.
2.2 The Role of Policing in Achieving Community CohesionAny situation in which the police reaction is expected to significantly damage the victim, their family, and the community's faith in the police is considered a critical event.
Police immediately helped create community cohesiveness after the Manchester Arena terrorist incident. After the disaster, this gift was made. A major incident was declared, armed men were sent, and Manchester City Council and other authorities were contacted to contain the situation. All these activities were part of the immediate response. Manchester City built a Family Support and Reception Centre at the Etihad Stadium alongside municipal authorities and social care professionals (Tahar et al., 2023). This is successful cross-agency coordination.
As part of their reaction, the police interacted extensively with the community. This reduced public worry and maintained social peace. Proactive examinations of hotels and shelters for unaccompanied children, frequent briefings, community gatherings, and other activities showed a commitment to protection and openness. Crisis-related police activities may improve public perception (Sommer, et al. 2017). The Policing and Community Safety research shows increased safety and community cohesiveness.
Despite this, there are ways to improve, such as increasing community engagement before events to build confidence and collaboration, especially with radicalised people. Community-based discourse and activities can provide long-term assistance and address extremist causes, boosting resilience and unity (Fenn & Brunton-Smith, 2021). Successful police operations and community interactions require balancing security and community trust.
3.0 Role and Responsibilities of Officers3.1 About Critical IncidentsIf the police reaction is likely to affect the victim, family, and community's faith in the police, this is a key event. Events that need agency cooperation have a significant media effect or have catastrophic implications that fall under this category (College of Policing, 2024).
Critical Responsibilities of Response Officers:
Immediate Response: Response police must evaluate the situation, secure the area, and assist victims immediately upon arrival (Hind et al., 2021). Containment and urgent response include this. At this point, public safety and preventing further harm are paramount.
Integration with Other Organisations: In a high-profile disaster, it is typically necessary to work with emergency medical services, fire and rescue experts, and municipal authorities (Li, et al. 2022). Response officers promote cross-organizational communication and collaboration to create a cohesive plan. This position promotes coherence and coordination (ASIS, 2022).
Investigations and Evidence Preservation: Maintaining a secure crime scene is crucial to evidence preservation. Responders must follow standards to prevent contamination and help investigative teams gather evidence to understand the occurrence and find the perpetrator. To assist investigation teams (ASIS, 2022).
Public Communication and Reassurance: Effective communication with the public and media is essential for order and accuracy (Rodrigues, et al. 2017). The individuals must be supported and reassured. The police must ensure that updates are kind to victims and their families, easy to understand, and provided quickly.
3.2 Critical Considerations at High-Profile IncidentsMedia Attention: The media covers high-profile situations because they attract much attention. Responders must balance operational security and openness and ensure that sensitive information does not compromise the investigation or public safety (Brub, et al. 2020).
Impact on Community: To reduce the problem's impact, the community must identify and solve its causes. Officers should talk to leaders and regular people to resolve difficulties, refute rumours, and reassure community members (Kerslake Report, 2018).
Psychological Support: To reduce the psychological stress on victims, their relatives, and emergency responders, psychological treatment is needed. Making sure individuals have mental health treatments is crucial.
Police responding to the Manchester Arena attack were extremely accountable and dedicated. Due to the rapid designation of an important event, the deployment of armed personnel, and the collaboration with Manchester City Council and other authorities (Li et al. 2022). Due to the construction of a Family Assistance and Reception Centre and proactive communication, multi-agency cooperation and public reassurance were needed. In contrast, the incident highlighted the importance of enhancing pre-incident information sharing and community participation to prevent repeat assaults (Brub, et al. 2021). To improve response officers' efficacy in future critical circumstances, continual training, preparedness for high-profile events, and community confidence are essential. This will improve the police's emergency response.
4.0 Impact of Human Behavior on Policing Operations4.1 Occupational Culture in PolicingPolice officers face "occupational culture"norms, attitudes, and behaviours. This culture influences officers' understanding of their roles, crisis responses, and relationships with the public and other organisations. Fraternity, conservatism, scepticism, and purpose are its parts. One of its numerous parts (Brown, et al. 2021). These traits may foster resilience and collaboration or hinder crucial circumstances. Lack of flexibility, unwillingness to adjust, or bias against other groups might cause issues.
Evidence of Occupational Culture Influencing Police Response: Following the Manchester Arena disaster, police culture showed its good and evil. The police's extraordinary coordination, lightning-fast response, and unwavering dedication to duty showed mission and cohesion. These showed that a cohesive, purpose-driven police force works (Turner, 2024). These include quick emergency procedures, productive agency interaction, and support centres. The work environment may have affected the response. Consider this. Intelligence options overlooked throughout the inquiry may have stopped the incident. Isolation may have been caused by bureaucratic lethargy or risk aversion at MI5, preventing information exchange and action. Intelligence may have been ignored (Kerslake Report, 2018).
4.2 Research on Police Occupational Culture and Incident ManagementAccording to the study, police department culture may improve or hurt incident management. Research shows that solid organisational cultures improve cooperation. However, they can also make people oppose new ideas and cross-government cooperation. Debbaut and De Kimpe (2023) noted that police culture might perpetuate values and prejudices. Creative and flexible adaptation to new conditions may be more rigid. Loftus (2010) suggests that police culture perpetuates preconceptions, as stated by Miller (2021).
Human Behaviour and Emotional Response to Critical Incidents: Human activity, especially emotions, complicates significant events. Trying situations may exhaust cops emotionally, causing their judgement and professional performance to suffer. In such situations, emotional intelligencethe capacity to understand and control one's own and others' emotionsis crucial. Marcos, et al. (2020) state that emotional intelligence improves stress management and relationships. Psychological Science published this study.
Police and other Manchester Arena responders experienced emotional hardship. Because respondents needed psychiatric care, they were offered mental health resources and counselling. Beneficiaries contacted. The situation's severity and public attention put cops under strain. Tension increases their stress (Rowe, 2020). Despite the challenges, the police officers' emotional intelligence and resilience kept them calm and helpful.
4.3 Impact on Public PerceptionThe Manchester Arena incident shaped the public's view of the police. The swift and organised reaction, commended by many, helped restore order and security. Police assistance centres and public briefings soothed victims and their relatives. There were calls for change and criticism of police culture and wasted intelligence possibilities (Pettinger, 2023). These findings prompted criticism and reform.
This tragedy showed that information sharing, agency collaboration, and community engagement must be improved. It also revealed police culture issues, including isolationism and reluctance to change. Law enforcement may benefit from emotional intelligence training in stress management and public relations (Magny, 2022).
5.0 Impact of Diverse Community on Policing and the Criminal Justice SystemIncrease in Reported Hate Crimes: After the Manchester Arena tragedy, hate crimes have increased. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported that the number of occurrences increased by 100% from 28 on the day of the assault to 56 two days latera significant rise (BBC, 2017). The number of race-based hate crimes nationwide increased by 48% in the 25 days after the assault, from 2,544 to 3,315, according to a Victim Support report in 2020.
Police Engagement with Muslim Community: The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) actively engaged Muslim communities to calm them and build trust. To indicate that hate crimes would not be allowed, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins personally wrote to religious leaders. Law enforcement protected religious sites and organised community gatherings to address issues and promote togetherness. Additionally, the Victim Support report (2020) found 138 hate crimes in Manchester, up 59%, and 576 in London, up 42%, after the tragedy.
Police Engagement with the Muslim Community: The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and other UK police agencies have increased their engagement with Muslim communities in response to a surge in hate crimes (Wildman, 2021). Chief Constable Ian Hopkins emphasised community unity and immediately interacted with religious leaders to reassure them of police assistance. He spoke directly with religious leaders (Siddiqi, and Khan, 2023). The deployment of police to safeguard houses of worship and community gatherings to resolve problems and promote peace co-occurred. Muslim community participation reduced anxiety and built confidence.
Impact on Policing and the Criminal Justice System: Hate crimes increased law enforcement resources and highlighted the importance of effective community policing (Evans, and Farmer, 2020). Police must immediately respond to hatred and prosecute racial prejudice-motivated offences. This maintained public order and showed fairness. These actions changed the public's view and underlined the criminal justice system's importance of diversity and inclusion (Russell, and de Orellana, 2020). Additionally, these behaviours changed viewpoints.
The aftermath of the Manchester Arena incident highlighted police issues in demographically diverse areas. To ensure justice and help hate crime victims, a concerted reaction was needed. Thus, the importance of the community highlighted the engagement in resilience and togetherness.
6.0 ConclusionCommunity participation, competent policing, and human behaviour control may help towns endure terrorist attacks, as shown by the Manchester Arena catastrophe. This tragedy highlights the need to improve critical incident response, community-police collaboration, and intelligence collecting to prevent similar assaults and maintain community peace.
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