Is banter bullying or a necessary part of the police officer toolkit?

When interviewed, three groups of police officers and staff reframed a complaint from a colleague about being the subject of jokes and tricks as banter. For them, banter was a signifier of in-group acceptance. However, a closer analysis suggests that far from being a benign form of camaraderie, banter is often used to create and maintain an exclusionary masculine culture which police officers and staff are reluctant to challenge. Drawing parallels with sexual harassment and racism, this paper concludes by suggesting that as part of a toxic culture, banter can represent a form of institutionalised bullying.