NCJ Number
218043
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 214-233
Date Published
March 2007
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This British study examined the sociological and social-psychological factors associated with the level of trust and support citizens have for police.
Abstract
The study found that fear of crime and public confidence in policing were both rooted in a particular form of social perception. Each was associated with citizen perceptions of social order and cohesion. These perceptions were shaped by wider values and political attitudes regarding social change, permissiveness, and the prevalence of law and order in society. Moreover, respondents looked to the police to defend community values. It was suggested that police do this by not only enforcing the law evenhandedly and fairly but also by interacting with citizens in a courteous and professional manner. Some of these findings confirm those of a study of residents of New York City, which suggests that generalization of the findings may be possible. Study data were obtained from a single-contact mail survey of a randomly drawn sample of residents of seven sets of towns and villages within a predominantly rural area in northeast England. In 2001, questionnaires were sent to 5,906 individuals drawn from the 2001 Electoral Roll. A total of 1,023 completed questionnaires were returned (18-percent response rate). The questionnaire contained measures of respondent satisfaction with police engagement in the community; satisfaction with police effectiveness in dealing with crime; the extent to which the police were viewed as treating people fairly and respectfully; and perception of the similarity between their values and those of local police officers. 4 tables, 3 figures, and 58 references