Re-examining the Normative, Expressive, and Instrumental Models: How Do Feelings of Insecurity Condition the Willingness To Cooperate With Police in Different Contexts?

Policing by consent has long been viewed as a fundamental feature of modern policing. Police need citizens to report crime and suspicious activity and to assist police with their enquiries. The procedural justice model is commonly used to explain cooperation with police; yet few studies consider how social context informs cooperation. In addressing this issue, the current study compared results in two contexts, St. Louis County (U.S.) and Brisbane (Australia). The study found similarities and differences in the way contextual factors (including feelings of insecurity, social cohesion, and trust) impacted the willingness of citizens to assist police across the two research sites. (publisher abstract modified)