Exploring the Role of Paramedics in Identifying Criminal Activity A Concept Paper
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This concept paper explores if there is a role for paramedics in crime identification. Evidence of organized crime, human trafficking and, to a lesser extent, radicalisation exists. All potential to damage victims’ physical and mental well-being and negatively impact society.
Background - Paramedics respond to sexual health issues or sexual/violent assaults on bondservants, injury/illness to persons connected with organized crime, or radicalized persons, they may witness red flags that may hold crucial information for law enforcement. Research identifies health care as an intervention point, particularly in cases of sexual bondservants; on many occasions, identification did not occur. A scoping review highlighted a lack of adequate awareness of paramedics in identifying this emerging subset of criminal activity. Additionally, there is a lack of robust reporting processes that offers protection from retaliation.
Design - A literature search using online data databases. Guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, 61 articles were found, 22 were identified as relevant.
Results - The search highlights a lack of paramedicine research; studies focused on hospital-based medical practitioners (physicians and nursing staff), law enforcement agencies, and allied agencies (lawyers and support services). The review found no studies that focused on preparing paramedics to identify emerging crimes.
Conclusions - Research on paramedicine as a standalone was lacking. Further research will add insight into operations, function as a guide, and assist in developing specific awareness education packages. Cohort studies and organisational interrogation linking paramedic awareness to these crimes would establish the current level of understanding.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Publishing in IJOP allows authors to keep their copyright while giving IJOP unrestricted copyright permissions. Articles published in IJOP use Creative Common Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) licensing. This license requires that re-users give credit to the creator. It allows re-users to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, even for commercial purposes. Additional terms apply and can be accessed here.
Publishing in IJOP also allows authors to have contracts for non-exclusive distribution of the Journal's published version of the article, such as posting to an institutional repository or publication in a book, on the condition that the original publication in the original layout format in IJOP is retained and acknowledged.
We permit and encourage authors to post the articles they published in IJOP on their affiliated websites. This helps share the information, encourages citation in other works, and promotes scholarly discourse in the spirit of open access.
References
ACIC. (2017). Organised crime in Australia 2017.
AFP. (2021, Tuesday, 7 September 2021, Publish time:8:33am). Commissioner's address to the National Summit on Women's Safety. National Summit on Women's Safety,
Australia, C. o. (2015). Preventing violent extremism and radicalisation in Australia. Canberra
Awerbuch, A., Gunaratne, N., Jain, J., & Caralis, P. (2020). Raising awareness of human trafficking in key professional fields via a multidisciplinary educational approach. International journal of human rights in healthcare, 13(2), 159-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-07-2019-0053
Brady, M. (2018). UK Paramedics Confidence in Identifying Child Sexual Abuse: A Mixed-Methods Investigation. Journal of child sexual abuse, 27(4), 439-458. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1477223
Courts, Q. (2022). What is domestic violence? Retrieved 29/03/2022 from https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/going-to-court/domestic-violence/what-is-domestic-violence
Donnelly, E. A., Oehme, K., Barris, D., & Melvin, R. (2019). What Do EMS Professionals Know about Human Trafficking? An Exploratory Study. Journal of human trafficking, 5(4), 325-335. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2018.1501258
Edwards, G. (2022, 27/04/2022). THE UNTHINKABLE - CHILDREN TRAFFICKED FOR SEX. The Strong Commander. https://www.thestrongcommander.com/post/the-unthinkable-children-trafficked-for-sex
Falkiner, M., Thomson, D., & Day, A. (2017). Teachers’ Understanding and Practice of Mandatory Reporting of Child Maltreatment. Children australia, 42(1), 38-48. https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2016.53
Khalil, H., Peters, M. D. J., Tricco, A. C., Pollock, D., Alexander, L., McInerney, P., Godfrey, C. M., & Munn, Z. (2021). Conducting high quality scoping reviews-challenges and solutions. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 130, 156-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.10.009
Langhorn, M. (2018). Human trafficking and sexual servitude: Organised crime's involvement in Australia. Salus journal, 6(1), 1-25.
Lederer, L. J., & Wetzel, C. A. (2014). The health consequences of sex trafficking and their implications for identifying victims in healthcare facilities. Annals of health law, 23(1), 61.
Lyneham, S., Dowling, C., & Bricknell, S. (2019). Estimating the dark figure of human trafficking and slavery victimisation in Australia. [Statistical Bulletin]. Australian Government.
Moirangthem, S., Kumar, N. C., & Math, S. B. (2015). Child sexual abuse: Issues & concerns. Indian journal of medical research (New Delhi, India : 1994), 142(JULY), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-5916.162084
NPIA. (2009). Guidance on MultiAgency Interoperability. United Kingdom: National Policing Improvement Agency
Papp, J., Smith, B., Wareham, J., & Wu, Y. (2019). Fear of retaliation and citizen willingness to cooperate with police. Policing & society, 29(6), 623-639. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2017.1307368
Putt, J. (2007). Human trafficking to Australia a research challenge. Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice(338), 1.
QAS. (2020). Clinical Practice Manual. In. Queensland.
Sarkis-Onofre, R., Catalá-López, F., Aromataris, E., & Lockwood, C. (2021). How to properly use the PRISMA Statement. Systematic reviews, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01671-z
Sawyer, S., Cahill, A., Bartlett, S., Smith, K., & Higgins, D. (2023). Do Australian Paramedics Understand Their Professional and Legal Obligations Regarding Child Abuse and Neglect? International journal on child maltreatment : research, policy and practice, 6(1), 59-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42448-022-00144-7
Simmons, F., & Wong, G. (2021). Learning from lived experience: Australia's legal response to forced marriage. University of New South Wales law journal, 44(4), 1619-1662. https://doi.org/10.53637/YJYS9724
Simons, P. (2009). Crime-fighting bill a mistake; Doctors face ethical dilemma if required to report gun and stab wounds. Edmonton journal.
State of Queensland. (2021). Gold Coast Region Report.
UN. (2022). Transnational Organized Crime. https://www.unodc.org/ropan/en/organized-crime.html?msclkid=c6292ad3a8c011ec8c1e6055dd570ac9
UN. (2023). Global Repot on Trafficking in Persons. Retrieved 08/01/2024 from https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/global-report-on-trafficking-in-persons.html
USFA. (2018, 8 January ). Training Helps EMS Workers Identify Human Trafficking Signs. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/ci-110818.html
Whittington, A. (2022). Adam Whittington. Retrieved 6th May from https://www.adamwhittington.com/
Wilson, T., & Hill, L. (2021). The role of the paramedic in identifying modern slavery. Journal of paramedic practice : the clinical monthly for emergency care professionals, 13(2), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2021.13.2.CPD1
Zimmerman, C., Hossain, M., Yun, K., Gajdadziev, V., Guzun, N., Tchomarova, M., Ciarrocchi, R. A., Johansson, A., Kefurtova, A., Scodanibbio, S., Motus, M. N., Roche, B., Morison, L., & Watts, C. (2008). The Health of Trafficked Women: A Survey of Women Entering Posttrafficking Services in Europe. American journal of public health (1971), 98(1), 55-59. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.108357