Problems of social perception in professional activity of law enforcement officers

The article presents results of a research of perception and self-perception of law enforcement officers and citizens with whom they are involved in socio-psychological interaction in the process of professional activity. Interaction of law enforcement officers is determined by activity characteristics which can be presented as follows: complexity and multiplicity of tasks; inability to receive exhaustive information on the problem situation; necessity of making decisions in uncertain conditions; insufficient normative regulation of joint activity of different offices in different situations; distinction and diversity of assessment criteria of interacting offices activity; activity in conditions of time and resources deficiency; realization of large volumes of work without achieving expected results. On the base of identified specifics of perceptive processes of law enforcement officers and citizens the research shows the relevance of special psychological training for law enforcement officers.