Preliminary Studies for a Research Police Cafe, Part 2

Research-Methodological and Police Professional Lessons from the National Roma Police Café Series

Abstract

The cooperation between the police and the Roma community goes back many years. In order to develop the relationship and make cooperation more efficient, the police force tries to take a step forward with various programs of a crime prevention nature. However, at the end of 2023, a new form of cooperation was realised with the implementation of the National Roma Police Café series. Police cafés based on the Police Café method serve as an excellent platform for exploring a problem more deeply, getting to know each other’s opinions, and formulating proposals for solutions. The author took part in the organisation and implementation of the
Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county event of the Roma Police Café series, firstly as a theme host, secondly as a county press officer, and thirdly as a doctoral student of the Doctoral School of Law Enforcement of the Ludovika University of Public Service. Used and recognised by a wide range of police officers, police cafés – as a qualitative empirical research method – are still only marginally recognised in the field of science. The method has proven to be valid in research conducted in the field of law enforcement in recent years, which is confirmed by the Roma Police Café series and its positive feedback. On the basis of a county Café, lessons can mostly be learned about local characteristics, but based on the national summary of the program series, it can also be concluded that by organising events of this type, the police brings the organisation closer to its service character. With these and similar programs, the police engage in real dialogue with civilians and provide insight into the organisation and its work. The positive results of this two-way communication can be seen in the short, medium and long term from the side of law enforcement, the police, and civilians.