Improving Public Confidence in the Police: A Review of the Evidence

• NCJ Number: 230344
• Author(s): Andrew Rix; Faye Joshua; Mike Maguire, Prof.; Sarah Morton
• Date Published: December 2009
• Length: 25 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Research Report 28

Annotation

This report presents findings from a literature review of evidence on public confidence in the police.

Abstract

The evidence presented suggests that the strategies that are likely to be most effective in improving confidence in the police are associated with initiatives aimed at increasing community engagement. Three out of the four interventions classified in the 'what works' section all included an element of communicating and engaging with the community (embedding neighborhood policing; high-quality community engagement; and using local-level communications/newsletters). Several additional key implications from a review of the evidence on improving public confidence in the police are presented. It is important that the public feel confident in the police. To inform evidence-based guidance to forces on how to improve performance, a literature review was commissioned to summarize the best available evidence on 'what works' in terms of improving public confidence in the police and to identify what other interventions look promising and merit further research. Tables and references