Inherent and Organisational Stress in the SAPS: An Empirical Survey in the Western Cape

Police work has been identified as a stressful occupation. Considered in the context of the South African (SA) situation, the paucity of research on the topic is cause for concern. This paper reports a preliminary exploration of stress in the South African Police Service (SAPS). Ninety-one SAPS members in the Cape Peninsula completed a questionnaire consisting of (i) Spielberger's 60-item Police Stress Survey (Spielberger, Westbury, Grier & Greenfield, 1981), and (ii) a 12-item Likert scale identifying potentially stressful areas specific to the South African context. Results show the SA sample to evidence a greater degree of stress than a USA sample. Results indicate that the way In which the police organisation operates in SA creates stress additional to the inherent pressure already existing as a result of the nature of police work. This finding indicates a potential area of intervention, and also shows that further research could profitably be conducted.