NCJ Number
87824
Journal
RCMP Gazette Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: (1982) Pages: 1-7
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A 1981 public survey conducted by the Thunder Bay police (Ontario, Canada) revealed general support for the quality of policing services and widespread feelings that the public and, to a lesser extent, the police were not sufficiently involved in crime prevention.
Abstract
Of the 1,000 questionnaires mailed to randomly selected citizens in summer 1981, 550 were returned. Approximately 300 respondents had been victims of crime during the past year, and 87.8 percent had contacted the police. Most victims felt the police had responded quickly enough and were very or somewhat satisfied with police action taken. About half the sample had been charged by a Thunder Bay police officer at some time, but almost all perceived the police as very or reasonably courteous, as did almost all individuals who had never been charged. The same patterns existed in perceptions of police fairness, suggesting that charging persons does not negatively affect the public's image of the police. About 91 percent believed the police generally were doing a good job, and 73 percent felt very safe walking in their neighborhoods in the day, while 25.9 percent felt reasonably safe. At night, only 25.4 percent felt very safe, and 59.3 percent felt reasonably safe. Most respondents indicated they would like to see more traffic policing, with 88 percent of the sample agreeing that traffic enforcement was an important part of policing. While 40 percent said the police were not doing enough to prevent crime, 90.4 percent reported that the public was not doing its share in this area. Suggestions for improved policing included stricter enforcement, more beat patrols, more traffic enforcement, and more police patrols. Tables and the questionnaire are provided.