This technical brief is intended to guide countries in implementing the Law Enforcement Attitudes towards Key Populations (LEAP) survey, a tool to inform programming with police in the context of HIV. This technical brief includes an overview of the importance of measuring stigma and discrimination towards four key populations1 among law enforcement officers,2 and a discussion of how to do so efficiently. Recommended approaches for data collection, with guiding principles, and guidelines for analysis are provided. The finalized LEAP survey was piloted in South Africa and can be adapted for use in other contexts. The survey is presented in Annex 1, and a detailed description of its development is given in Annex 2.

This technical brief can be used by policymakers, heads of law enforcement, researchers and other people with an interest in understanding attitudes of police officers towards four key populations. It can be used for routine monitoring and to assess progress towards national programmatic efforts. To date, there have not been any standardized or validated tools to understand stigma and discrimination among law enforcement. The tool can be used to fill this gap and to determine baseline attitudes towards key populations among law enforcement; track and monitor attitudes towards key populations over time; compare attitudes towards key populations across contexts (within and across countries or regions); and identify gaps where intervention or training is needed. The survey can be used with all law enforcement officers, but it is best suited to those that work with members of the public. The tool can be used with national, state or regional policing organizations, and with different policing organizations active within a given geographical location.

The LEAP questionnaire consists of five sections. Each section covers a key subtheme related to attitudes and practices towards key populations. The four key populations in this survey are gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, and people who inject drugs. The sections included and the types of items contained in each section are listed below: Section A: key demographic information (e.g. age, gender, rank) captured alongside information on training received and awareness of key policies. Section B: items measuring attitudes about police engagement with people from each of the key populations (seven items per key population, plus five additional items for sex workers). Section C: items measuring stigmatizing attitudes about reported mistreatment of people from key populations (three items per key population). Section D: items measuring observed discrimination of people from key populations (three items per key population). Section E: items measuring policing practices (preferred versus required behaviour).

P. 18-22 Questionnaire - Section B: personal attitudes and actions towards key populations

• PPPWG My police station has written guidelines to protect people who inject drugs from discrimination during policing
• PWDPUB People who inject drugs have the same right to access public spaces as everyone else
• PWDRES People who inject drugs deserve to be treated with respect
• PWDPA It is OK to physically assault people who inject drugs
• PWDDPP People who inject drugs are less deserving of police assistance and protection than other people
• PWDINV I should investigate the crimes reported by someone who injects drugs
• PWDVI It is appropriate to scold or verbally insult people who inject drugs
• PWDASS People who report or assist a person who is overdosing should be arrested or detained

Section C: personal attitudes about reporting mistreatment and the role of policing in public health

• PARDU I would feel comfortable reporting a co-worker who mistreated a person who injects drugs to my supervisor
• PARDUS Police senior management take reports of mistreatment of people who inject drugs by police officers seriously
• PAMDUP I will get in trouble if I mistreat a person who injects drugs while on patrol

Section D: co-worker attitudes and actions towards key population

• PARDU I would feel comfortable reporting a co-worker who mistreated a person who injects drugs to my supervisor
• PARDUS Police senior management take reports of mistreatment of people who inject drugs by police officers seriously
• PAMDUP I will get in trouble if I mistreat a person who injects drugs while on patrol
• OBSPWD In the past 6 months, how often have you observed police officers talking badly to other police officers about a person who injects drugs, or a person who is thought to inject drugs?
• OBSVPWD In the past 6 months, how often have you observed police officers verbally abusing (talking badly to or aggressively with) a person who injects drugs, or a person who is thought to inject drugs?
• OBSPPWD In the past 6 months, how often have you observed police officers physically harming (e.g. using unnecessary or undue force) a person who injects drugs, or a person who is thought to inject drugs?

Section E: policing practices for key populations

• PPCUD What are you trained or supposed to do if a person who injects drugs is in custody and experiencing withdrawal symptoms? (select all that apply)
• PPCDW What would you prefer to do if a person who injects drugs is in custody and experiencing withdrawal symptoms? (select all that apply)