Police ethnography in exceptional circumstances

This chapter provides a methodological reflection on police ethnography in exceptional circumstances. More specifically, it considers what police ethnographers can do to pursue their craft when fundamental aspects of doing ethnographic research are no longer feasible or severely restricted. The COVID-19 pandemic is used as a case study, because it has given rise to a range of legal and ethical issues that have impacted on the capacity of ethnographers to immerse themselves in the field to study police work through direct observation and in-person interactions. By focusing on methods that enable ethnographers to explore the inner world of policing while physically distant, the chapter discusses the potential benefits and practicalities of embracing unconventional and innovative approaches to ethnographic research. Particular attention is given to visual images, digital technology and utilising the police as observers through cameras and diaries. It is argued that police ethnographers should integrate such methods into their toolkits in order to enhance their adaptability and broaden their horizons in terms of data sources and avenues of inquiry.