The show must go on! An autoethnography of (re)socialization into senior policing in England and the prominence of “leadership theatre”

This article explores how socialization impacts upon senior police officers in England and perpetuates organizational cultures. We explore the hitherto recondite world of the senior police manager by examining how a superintendent is (re)socialized to conform with a prevailing culture after returning from a two-and-a-half-year secondment. Analytic autoethnography situates first-hand experience within an academic framework. We find that Van Maanen’s motivational factors of punishment-centered supervision, keeping a low profile, narrow perceptions of “real” police work, and conflicting role demands still persist. This suppresses alternative leadership styles, contradicts policing’s espoused progressive philosophies, and leads to “leadership theatre”—where the impression of control and effectiveness outweighs delivery. This unique autoethnographical perspective on senior police officer (re)socialization offers a vital insight into the challenges for genuine police reform.