Police, victim and co-victim interaction: Insights from Australia

Police are likely to experience the full gamut of emotions, from excitement, fear, empathy and disgust during each shift on duty. The drama, crime, humour and pathos that is part of their working life is further exacerbated by trauma, loss, fear, aggression and criminality. Frequently officers are expected to be the counsellor, sage, ‘Father Confessor’, fixer and prophet. This is particularly true of the interaction between police and vulnerable people.
The 2020 police shooting of Mohamad Ikraam Bahram in Brisbane has once again highlighted major problems regarding how the police deal with vulnerable victims and witnesses in Australia and elsewhere . In this instance Bahram, who was suffering from delusions and was potentially schizophrenic, was in a public place after stabbing a passer-by, and was confronted by armed police who fired fifteen rounds at him, ten of which entered his body. The way in which the police dealt with Bahram on the day is being questioned by his family who feel that he could have been dealt with differently due to his known illness.