Policing protest: public order policing

This chapter outlines the methodological hurdle associated with researching sexuality within a post-Macpherson policing context. Sexuality and policing highlights the historical antagonisms referred to above that threatened the likelihood of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) police officers coming forward and self-identifying LGB for the purpose of the research. It also focus and reflect on four central elements of methodological strategy used in the research the benefits of pursuing a mixed-method research design; the problem of access; the importance of building rapport with hard to research participants; and negotiating ethics. It also highlights how challenges can be mitigated against with a carefully planned and strategic methodological strategy, but malleable and flexible to difference within the research settings and participant requirements/characteristics. The chapter also showcased how formal approaches to research access in this context are not always productive and are best facilitated by less formal strategies.