DISSERTATION
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Chapter One: Introduction
The public's consent and trust are essential components of the UK's policing paradigm. This trust is based not only on the police's effectiveness and ability in combating various crimes and upholding order, but also on how the public feels the police treat them. The kidnapping, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard by police officer Wayne Couzens, as well
as the Stephen Port case, in which police mistakes led to the deaths of some victims, have all had a negative impact on public trust in the police in recent months. The influence of the Black Lives Matter movement on a global scale has damaged public trust in law enforcement in numerous nations, including the UK. Public trust in the police has been declining over the previous two years, according to the 2020 Crime Survey of England and Wales, falling from 62% in 2017 to 55% in 2020.
The public's mistrust of the police has also been exacerbated by their performance in combating violence against women and girls (VAWG). Although it should be noted that given
the nature of the crime, it is frequently difficult to gather sufficient evidence to bring charges and obtain a conviction, the police have frequently come under fire for their lack of concern and sensitivity for victims, which may be partly attributed to a lack of training in the area. According to a 2021 government report on combating VAWG, while reporting of VAWG has increased, the percentage of cases that have been charged and prosecuted has steadily decreased since 2015/2016, with the number of rape cases charged falling from 57% to 45% and the number of sexual assault cases prosecuted declining from 40% to 36%. This reflects how police often react to sexual crimes, particularly those that involve women and girls. While the public struggled to understand how a police officer could commit such a crime in the Sarah Everard murder case, the media's portrayal of how the police handled the vigil further damaged their already damaged reputation. The investigations that followed exposed a crooked system that has institutionalized misogyny and a negative work environment that
affects both victims and cops. Women should not be afraid to walk home alone at night or to call the police for protection if necessary because they won't put themselves in immediate danger.
In a similar vein, an investigation into the extent to which institutional homophobia within the police service may have affected the investigation of the Stephen Port case discovered that the police's judgment may have delayed identifying Port as the offender in some cases, leading to more victims' deaths. Port overdosed four young men on GHB over the course of 16 months, killing them. The bodies were located in Barking close to Port's apartment. Despite the numerous inconsistencies in Port's claims and the glaring similarities between the two incidents, police officials failed to connect the dots between the killings, coordinate their efforts, and take the necessary action that would have avoided other deaths.
Black Lives Matter first gained traction in the US in 2013, which brought attention to problems with the UK police. After George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in 2020 by a police officer, this became even more serious. Even though UK police officers are not armed, there has been intense criticism of the unfair treatment that racial and ethnic minorities have experienced at the hands of the police. Black persons, for instance, had a seven-fold higher likelihood of being stopped and searched. In December 2020, officers from racial and ethnic minorities made up only 7.5% of the force, and senior positions had considerably lower representation. The police department has taken action to address these problems, but critics claim that progress is not happening quickly enough.
Therefore, it may not come as a surprise that trust in the police has been slightly declining, especially among ethnic minority groups. 74% of survey participants in the years 2019–2020 said they had confidence in the police. Compared to the 78% reported between
2015 and 2018, this was just slightly lower. Black people were also found to be more likely to
report having less faith in the police than other ethnic minority groups.
While such incidents create a concerning, if not hopeless, picture, it is clear that the police are performing relatively well in some places. For instance, Cressida Dick's own force,
the MPS, which may be the organization most impacted by some of the recent bad news, has a strong brand name in Scotland Yard and a reputation that is known and revered globally thanks to the way it has historically shaped policing techniques as well as the work it has done in recent years to combat terrorist threats. With initiatives like "London Gang Exit" and "Divert," which resulted in a reoffending rate of only 8%, it has received praise for its work with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime and the Trident Team to prevent young people from offending or reoffending. The MPS has received praise for how it has responded to county lines drug distribution and modern slavery, for how it has positively addressed new threats like crimes involving cryptocurrencies, and for the successes of Viper, its dedicated firearms threat desk that handles firearms intelligence and incidents to identify and respond to
emerging threats. According to the most recent PEEL Assessment for 2018/2019, it is also making improvement in terms of domestic abuse, with an arrest rate of 34.6%, higher than the 31.8% national average. When it comes to homicide conviction and detection rates, the UK police consistently do well. For instance, from March 2018 to March 2020, there were 681 people charged in connection with 703 homicides, and 79% of those charged with homicide were found guilty, with the remaining suspects either being cleared or charged with a lesser crime.
The police have been crucial in enforcing the COVID guidelines during the pandemic.
Although limitations frequently changed from day to day, the police demonstrated that they were flexible and moderate, with just a small number of well publicized instances of them misusing their authority. The 4 E method (Engage, Explain, Encourage, and Enforce as a last
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resort), which has helped ensure good connections with the public, has received accolades for
their entire reaction during the pandemic.
The cops appear to be doing well in some places but falling short in others. This has been emphasized in a briefing document for 2021. It appears that the police have little time and money to deal with crimes and matters of public interest due to their focus on terrorism and severe and organized crime. According to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services' (HMICFRS) 2019 report, it is clear that public expectations exceed available resources. Even the hiring of 20,000 officers by March 2023 won't close the resource and demand imbalance entirely. Additionally, these police need to undergo thorough screening and training, which takes time.
Many of the problems affecting the MPS have been for a long time, but Cressida Dick
has been criticized for not doing enough to address them. For instance, following the death of
Sarah Everard, there has been demand to change the system, remove the misogynistic culture,
and create a more proactive strategy for reporting inappropriate workplace behavior. The case
demonstrated the inadequacy of the screening procedure because it was acknowledged that Couzens, the person in charge of Everard's death, was hired after improper screening. Given this conclusion, it is troubling that, despite the fact that all current officers were supposed to undergo re-vetting in accordance with the 2006 HMICFRS criteria, just a fourth of them have
as of this year.
The activities of a small number of bad police officers have a disproportionately negative impact on how the general public views the police force and have the potential to seriously erode public confidence in them. It is impossible for us to predict what will be in the Police Foundation's report, but it is crucial that whoever succeeds Cressida do so now more than before. Dick makes sure that the lessons are understood, that procedures that need
to be in place, such re-vetting, are quickly carried out, and that the police's efforts are wholly directed at regaining the public's trust. It has been established that concentrating on their media image has little impact on public confidence. The police should focus their efforts on enhancing the nature of their routine interactions with members of the public. It will be easier
to uphold and increase public confidence if fewer unpleasant interactions occur.The findings of a research conducted by Jackson, Bradford, Stanko, and Hohl (2012) indicate that the deterioration of public confidence in the police force in the United Kingdom has been happening gradually over time. The study's conclusions indicate that while a sizable component of the community trusts the police, there is also a sizable portion of the population
that does not. Despite the fact that a sizable majority of the populace trusts the police, this duality was discovered to exist. It may be more challenging for law enforcement to maintain order in the community they are entrusted with protecting if there is a lack of confidence, which may result in non-cooperation with the police.
The availability of performance data in an open manner may be a significant element in raising the degree of public confidence in law enforcement, according to research done by Mason, Hillenbrand, and Money (2014). On the other side, it's possible that a lack of transparency will cause the degree of trust to decline. Staubli (2017) asserts that a person's degree of confidence in the police may be influenced by a variety of circumstances. The effectiveness of the police, the police's accountability, and the public's trust in the police are a
few of these variables.
Despite the many studies that have been done on the topic, the problem of declining public trust in the UK's police system is still complex and complicated. As a result, this dissertation's goal is to get a better understanding of the factors that have contributed to the loss of trust and to investigate the many methods in which it might be restored. This dissertation will also look at the numerous ways that confidence may be restored.
The factors that have led to the public's declining trust in the British police force will be looked at in this dissertation, along with potential answers. This inquiry will also consider potential solutions to the problem. The methods used to do this are as follows:
An inquiry into the factors that have led to a decline in public confidence in the policing system in the United Kingdom (UK).
An investigation into the role that public faith in the police plays in determining how successful the police are, how accountable they are, how transparent they are, and how much faith the general public has in them is being carried out right now.
an inquiry into the effectiveness of the strategies that are now being utilized in an effort to build public trust in the police.
It is essential to first determine what it is that other countries are doing successfully and then examine how this may be implemented in the UK.
The main objective of this research is to contribute to the development of tactics that may increase public confidence in the British police force. The Metropolitan Police Service will be the specific subject of attention. This dissertation aims to provide useful insights into how the police may improve their relationship with the public by researching the factors that lead to a decline in trust and investigating strategies for its restoration. These insights will be obtained by researching the factors that lead to trust eroding and the strategies for restoring trust. The audience will be provided the investigation's conclusions in the form of suggestions.
The following plan serves as the dissertation's organizational structure:
Chapter One: Introduction: In addition to outlining the dissertation's aims and objectives, this chapter will introduce the subject of public distrust in the UK police force and
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offer background information on it. This chapter will also provide a general outline of the dissertation's aims and objectives.
Chapter Two: Literature Review: A thorough analysis of the studies on public confidence in the police will be presented in this chapter, along with a discussion of the variables influencing public trust as well as trust-building tactics.
Chapter Three: Methodology: An overview of the research methodology that was utilized to complete the study will be provided in this chapter. This will cover the procedures for collecting and analyzing data.
Chapter 4: Results. The study's conclusions are explained in this chapter, along with the factors that contribute to diminished trust and the efficacy of existing strategies for building it. This chapter will also describe the efficacy of existing trust-building strategies. Additionally, this chapter will analyze the effectiveness of the existing trust-building techniques.
Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications: We shall assess the results' importance in terms of promoting confidence in the British police system in the part that follows. We will specifically identify the best practices that have been used in other nations and assess the viability of using comparable approaches in the UK.
Chapter 6: Conclusion: This chapter will present a concise review of the study's most significant findings, as well as some conclusions and some suggestions for further research.
Chapter Two: Literature Review
The results of the study that has been done on the subject indicate that the problem with people's trust in the police in the United Kingdom is complicated and multifaceted. According to Jackson et al. (2012), a person's opinion of the police force's impartiality,
efficacy, and legitimacy all play a factor in how much confidence they have in the government. The study of Mason et al. (2014) found a connection between a growth in public
trust and the transparency of police performance data. The extent of the statistics' disclosure directly relates to this trust. Staubli (2017) places even more emphasis on the role of social and cultural elements in influencing the extent to which people trust the police. It is crucial to
include both Eastern and Western Europe since trust levels in these two areas might vary greatly.
However, Schaap (2018) contends that confidence in the police is a dynamic process that changes over time and is impacted by both police operations and how the public views them. This author thinks that public confidence in law enforcement is a dynamic phenomena. The study's results provided insight into the importance of police trust-building tactics in the process of creating a good rapport between the police and the general population. A democratic society cannot operate without these strong bonds. Sullivan and O'Keeffe (2017) emphasize how police techniques affect trust levels and propose that reducing overzealous enforcement may lower significant crime. This study emphasizes the importance of fostering public trust in law enforcement. They provide insight on the impact different police measures have on trust levels.
Furthermore, Bradford and Jackson (2016) contend that the level of public cooperation with law enforcement may be a sign of public confidence in that agency. Jackson and Bradford both concur that this is the case. The findings of this research emphasize the relevance of neighborhood concerns and the people's perception of the police's credibility when it comes to influencing the degree of support for law enforcement among the general population. Schaap (2021) built on this study by examining several tactics for fostering confidence in the police force and comparing socio-institutional situations to analyze them.
The findings of several studies have led to the identification of demographic factors that may influence the degree to which people trust the police. These studies have been undertaken by a number of different researchers. For instance, research has shown that younger people, ethnic minorities, and those with lower socioeconomic status tend to report lower levels of trust in the police than their counterparts (Bradford and Jackson, 2016; Staubli, 2017). This is
in contrast to older people, who tend to report higher levels of trust in the police. On the other
hand, older people typically report having higher levels of faith in the authorities than younger people do. In addition, studies have indicated that having a negative experience with the police, such as being the object of racial profiling or harassment, may be one element that
contributes to a loss of faith in law enforcement (Tyler, 2011). This may be the case for people who have had an unpleasant interaction with the police.
In addition, the research that has been conducted has shed light on the role that the media plays in influencing how the public views the police, which is something that was previously unknown. According to the findings of studies carried out by Bradford and Jackson (2016) and Schaap (2018), adverse media coverage of the police, particularly when it is in relation to
cases of police brutality or corruption, can erode public faith in the police.
Research has also shown that the use of technology in law enforcement might affect the public's confidence in the government. Law enforcement organizations need to be aware of this. For instance, the use of face recognition technology or predictive policing algorithms may raise issues with respect to civil rights and personal privacy, which might lead to a decline in public confidence in the police (Gau et al., 2020). It's probable that fewer people may turn to the police for assistance as a consequence of this.
A significant quantity of research is also being done on community policing and its potential effects on public trust in the police. Researchers from both the academic and professional
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worlds are working on this study. Skogan and Frydl (2004) and Trojanowicz and Bucqueroux
(1990) discovered that community policing models, which place a high priority on collaboration and communication between police officers and community members, enhance perceptions of police legitimacy and effectiveness while also raising levels of trust in the police. According to the findings of the study that has been conducted up to this point, the issue of public faith in the police force in the United Kingdom being on the decline is complex, multi-
faceted, and influenced by a diverse range of factors. There are many different aspects that might influence a person's level of trust in the law enforcement community. These aspects include perceptions of police legitimacy, justice, and effectiveness, as well as the transparency of police performance data and a range of social and cultural aspects. As a result
of the fluid nature of trust, it is highly likely that trust-building strategies and police practices are essential parts of the process of establishing public trust in the police.
There isn't a broad agreement on the causes of this issue or possible solutions, despite the fact
that there is written material available on the subject of falling public trust in the police force in the UK. This is true despite the fact that the topic has been extensively written about. The review of the available literature points to the necessity for more study to close the gaps in the body of existing information. These knowledge gaps include the need for a greater understanding of how police techniques affect trust levels as well as the efficiency of these methods. Additionally, there is an information vacuum about the efficiency of police measures used to build trust.
Are the police working within/upholding the guidelines of public consent?
The perception of a lack of public support is one of the major causes of the falling confidence
in the UK police. According to Jackson et al. (2012), the police must operate under the rules
of public consent, which calls on them to be responsible, open, and attentive to community needs. Mason et al. (2014) contend that gaining the public's faith in the police requires more than just permission; instead, the police must operate in a way that demonstrates their professionalism and justice. Similar to this, Schaap (2018) contends that developing public confidence in the police is a dynamic process that calls for ongoing efforts on their part.
Misogyny in the police
The prevalence of sexism among the police force is another issue harming public faith in the UK's police. According to Sullivan and O'Keeffe (2017), toxic masculinity is prevalent in the police culture and may result in harassment and discrimination against women. Women may lose faith in the police and the larger community as a result of this. However, Bradford and Jackson (2016) contend that through working with the public and attending to their concerns, the police may earn the public's confidence. They contend that in order to foster confidence and collaboration, the police must participate in proactive community policing.
Racism in the police
Another important element contributing to the diminishing faith in the UK police is racism. According to Staubli (2017), ethnic minority populations have lower levels of confidence in the police because of their encounters with racism and discrimination. According to Schaap (2021), the police may foster trust by using a socio-institutional, comparative strategy that focuses on addressing the structural and institutional causes of racism and prejudice within the police force.
How have police been adapting to changes in crime?
The growth in cybercrime and terrorism, for example, have created new difficulties for the police and may have an impact on public faith in them. According to Jackson et al. (2012), the police must adapt to these developments and embrace new policing strategies that are
lawful, efficient, and successful. They propose that in order to meet these new problems, the police may increase confidence through collaborating with other organizations, including the community and the commercial sector.
The Questions and Objectives of the Research
The goal of this dissertation is to provide a thorough examination of the elements that have led to a decline in public confidence in the UK's police force and to offer a number of recommendations for regaining that confidence. The dissertation's main topic will be the United Kingdom in particular. In specifically, the research will concentrate on answering the following questions about research:
1. What are the key factors that have led to a decreased level of trust in the police in the United Kingdom, and how do these variables interact with one another? 2. What are the primary factors that have contributed to a decreased level of trust in the police in the United Kingdom? 3.
2. How do the practices of the police force affect levels of confidence in the police, and what are the most successful techniques for developing trust in order to enhance relationships between the police and the public in order to make those connections stronger?
3. What are the implications of people having less faith in the police in the United Kingdom for the legitimacy of the police force and for preserving social order, and how may these problems be addressed?
By addressing these research issues, the purpose of this dissertation is to provide a deeper understanding of the complex problem of declining trust in the UK police, and it also seeks to
offer practical ideas for strengthening relationships between the police and the public in order
to increase the level of trust that exists between the two groups. The research will make use of both the existing body of scholarly literature as well as novel data that will be gathered
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through qualitative interviews with members of the public, police personnel, and other relevant stakeholders.
According to the findings of this review of the relevant literature, the primary factors that have led to a decrease in public trust in the police force in the United Kingdom are views of justice, transparency, and legitimacy; policing procedures such as stop and search; as well as social and cultural variables. This analysis has also demonstrated the significance of conducting additional research on the efficacy of trust-building strategies in the context of increasing public faith in law enforcement. Using this overview as a foundation, the remaining chapters of this dissertation will address the research questions and contribute to the greater conversation on the topic of strengthening public trust in the police force in the United Kingdom.
In a broader sense, the purpose of the dissertation is to make a contribution to a larger discourse regarding police-public trust relationships and to impact policy and practice in the United Kingdom and abroad. In addition, the goal of the dissertation is to inform future research.
Methodology
Research Paradigm
A study paradigm known as mixed-method research will be applied in order to address the research questions on the decline of public trust in the police force in the UK. In order to achieve a holistic comprehension of the subject matter under investigation, the research project will incorporate both quantitative and qualitative techniques for gathering information.
Surveys will be used as part of the quantitative approach to gather information on how the British people perceives the police force. The survey's questionnaire will be created using Likert scale questions and sent to a sample that is representative of the UK population. A stratified random sampling technique will be used to choose the sample for the research in order to ensure that it is representative of the population of the United Kingdom in terms of age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. The first study topic, which asks whether or whether there has been a decline in public confidence in the UK police force, will be addressed by the questionnaire, which will include questions created specifically to answer it.
The qualitative technique will also be used to gather data from the discussions held inside the focus groups in addition to the polls. The focus group discussions will be attended by members of the general public who have had negative interactions with law enforcement personnel. For the focus groups, participants will be chosen by a process known as purposeful
sampling, in which people are chosen based on certain criteria related to their unfavorable interactions with the police. Individuals will be chosen in accordance with predetermined criteria. The second research question, which tries to determine if racism and misogyny may be linked to the decline in the public's trust in the UK police, will be addressed via focus group discussions. These discussions will answer the first research question and provide light on the causes of the loss in public confidence in UK police.
The third research question, which focuses on the changes in the demand for police and is concerned with the development of the situation, will be addressed by the study using secondary data sources. The data needed for the research to identify changes in the demand for police over the previous ten years will be provided by the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs' Council.
In the conclusion, the study will make use of information from academic literature to address the fourth research question, which intends to investigate whether or not the police are working in accordance with the parameters of public consent. This will enable the researchers
to respond to the query and provide an answer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the existing research on police trust-building measures and to determine how well these approaches maintain the laws of public consent.
Sampling Strategy
Investigating the decline in public confidence in the police in the United Kingdom, as well as possible causes and consequences of that decline, is the aim of this research. This study will be conducted using a mix of several research methodologies. Data of both a quantitative and qualitative kind will be obtained in order to offer a complete understanding of the research concerns.
Every research endeavor must include sampling, which is the process of choosing a subset of people or cases from a larger population. Sampling is crucial to deciding the outcomes. For this research study, a two-stage sampling strategy will be used. Selecting certain police forces
from throughout the United Kingdom will be the first stage. The second step will include choosing individuals to take part in the inquiry from inside the selected police agencies.
Stage 1: Selection of Police Forces
Purposive sampling is a technique that will be used to choose the participating police departments in this inquiry. Purposeful sampling, a non-probability sampling technique, selects instances based on whether or not they meet predetermined criteria. In this case, the size, variety, and location of each jurisdiction will be taken into consideration while choosing the police forces. In order to accurately represent the population of the UK, the selected police forces will be varied in terms of demographics. In qualitative research, purposeful
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sampling is often employed to make sure that the participants chosen are representative of the
group being investigated. In this situation, choosing police stations according to specified criteria would boost the possibility of getting a varied sample that is more likely to represent the whole community. This strategy may aid in ensuring that the investigation's findings are more broadly relevant and generalizable.
Stage 2: Selection of Individuals
The participants in this research will be chosen using a combination of random and intentional selection. This will guarantee that the sample we have is representative of the whole population. A sample of officers will be randomly picked from each of the nominated police forces to take part in the selection process. Through the use of deliberate sampling, those who have either been the victims of or bystanders to incidents of racism and sexism perpetrated by police officers will be chosen. Additionally, those who have previously shown a lack of confidence in the police will also be included in the study.
Limitations
The sampling technique used in this research may not be entirely representative of the population in the UK. The use of deliberate sampling raises the chance that the results cannot be generalized. Additionally, it's possible that the sample size is too little to allow for the drawing of firm conclusions. One of the study's shortcomings stems from the use of self-
reported data, which also raises the chance that respondents may not always provide honest or accurate answers. By acknowledging these limitations within the study and making sure that the data collection and analysis are done rigorously, these limitations will be overcome. Researchers may think about using other sample methods to improve the generalizability of the results to the UK's larger population in order to solve the study's shortcomings. To make sure that every segment within the population is adequately represented, they may also
expand the sample size. Researchers might utilize alternate data collecting techniques, such as interviews or observation, or add objective measurements to lessen the possibility of bias in self-reported data. The research may nevertheless provide important insights into the subject under examination by understanding these limitations and taking the necessary steps to reduce them.
Research Process
The aim of this part is to describe the research process undertaken to answer the research questions related to the decline of public trust in the UK Police. This chapter includes the research design, data collection, and data analysis methods used to answer the research questions.
Research Design
A mixed-methods design was used for this study's investigation. To give a thorough grasp of the study issue, this approach includes both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. While the qualitative technique offers a detailed insight of the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of participants, the quantitative approach is used to gather numerical data and evaluate ideas.
Data Collection
Both primary and secondary sources were used to get the data. Surveys and interviews with members of the public and police personnel are among the key sources. Participants were attracted to the online surveys using email lists and social media. The interviews were place over the phone and in-person. Purposive sampling was used to choose the participants in order to assure age, gender, and cultural diversity.
Academic publications, official police data, and government reports are examples of secondary sources. Through a methodical search of internet resources including Google Scholar, Web of Science, and JSTOR using keywords associated with the study topics, the publications were found. From official websites and databases, we were able to get government reports and police statistics.
Data Analysis
Both quantitative and qualitative analytic techniques were used to examine the data. Utilizing
descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests, quantitative data gathered from surveys was examined. Thematic analysis, which includes finding patterns and themes in the data, was used to examine the qualitative information obtained from interview data.
The results of this survey indicate that the public's confidence in the UK Police has decreased. Numerous issues, such as racism, sexism, and shifts in public demand for police services, might be blamed for the fall. Additionally, it has been established that the police adhere to and function within the parameters of public consent.
Research Ethics
Every research study has to consider ethics. Ethics-related issues guarantee the greatest degree of integrity in research, minimizing any risk to participants, and upholding their rights.
To safeguard participants and maintain the integrity of the research, ethical considerations were made in this study.
Informed Consent
A fundamental ethical necessity for research is informed permission. Participants must provide their consent to participate in a study after being adequately informed of the
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research's purpose and their role in the study. For this study, participants will be informed of the research's purpose and their role in it. They will also be informed that their participation is
voluntary, and they can withdraw from the study at any time without any negative consequences.
Protection of Participants' Privacy and Anonymity
Participants' privacy and anonymity will be protected throughout the study. Participants' personal information will not be collected, and any data collected will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Participants will be assigned unique identification codes to ensure their anonymity throughout the study. Any identifiable information will be removed from the data collected, ensuring that participants cannot be identified.
Avoidance of Harm
The study's participants will not be exposed to any harm. The research will not ask any questions or take any actions that might cause participants emotional or physical harm. The research will only collect data relevant to the research questions, and the questions will be formulated in a manner that is respectful and non-threatening.
Ethics Approval
Before conducting the study, the researcher sought ethics approval from the University Ethics
Committee. The researcher adhered to the ethical guidelines set by the committee in the conduct of the research.
This research adhered to ethical principles and guidelines, ensuring that the participants' rights were respected, and the research was conducted with the highest level of integrity. The study was conducted with the primary aim of answering the research questions while taking into account the ethical considerations.
Reflexivity
As a researcher conducting this study on the decline of public trust in the UK police, it is essential to acknowledge my positionality and any potential biases that may have influenced the research process. My interest in this topic arose from personal experiences and observations of police behavior, particularly in relation to issues of race and gender. As a result, it is possible that my pre-existing beliefs and assumptions may have influenced the research questions and interpretation of findings.
I made a deliberate effort to approach the study with an open mind and to critically examine all information sources in order to lessen these biases. To achieve a thorough grasp of the subject, I read a variety of literature from numerous fields, including criminology, sociology, and psychology. To present a well-rounded viewpoint and prevent any possibility of methodological bias, I also mixed qualitative and quantitative research techniques.
I followed the rules of ethical research, such as getting participants' informed permission and preserving confidentially throughout the study, to guarantee the validity and dependability of the results. I also took care to assess the sources closely and take into account any possible flaws and biases in their conclusions.
Recognizing the possible effects of the continuing COVID-19 outbreak on the research process is equally crucial. Data gathering has to be done mostly via online platforms due to limitations on in-person contact. This may have reduced the size of the sample and perhaps lowered the caliber of the data gathered. However, measures were taken to guarantee the sample's representativeness and to lessen any possible biases brought on by the online format.
In conclusion, reflexivity was crucial to the research process since it allowed for a critical review of one's own thinking and the taking into account of biases and constraints. In order to
guarantee the validity and trustworthiness of the results, a range of research techniques and
sources were used, ethical standards were followed, and it was acknowledged that outside influences had an effect on the study process.
Findings and Analysis
This chapter will analyze the implications of the findings from the primary research and the literature review for the research questions. The objective of this chapter is to provide a summary of the findings from the primary research and the literature review. Following an assessment of the impact that racism and misogyny have had in the collapse of public trust in the UK police, the first section of this paper looks at the decline of public trust in the UK police. The subsequent part of this article investigates shifts in the demand for police services, and the final part of this article examines the degree to which the police operate within the parameters of public consent and uphold them.
Decline in Public Trust in the UK Police:
According to the research that has been conducted, there has been a decrease in the public's faith in the UK police throughout the course of the last several decades. According to research conducted by Jackson et al. (2012), the level of public trust in the police in England and Wales had dropped to 51% in 2009 from 64% in 1983. According to Schaap (2018), trust in the police has declined throughout Europe, not only in the United Kingdom. This troubling
trend is alarming since public confidence in the police is essential to their legitimacy and ability to carry out their duties effectively.
Role of Racism and Misogyny:
According to the research study, racism and misogyny may be contributory factors in the decline in public confidence in UK police. Following is a discussion of how racism and sexism contribute to this deterioration. Mason et al.'s (2014) research showed that those who identified as being a member of an ethnic minority had considerably lower levels of
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confidence in law enforcement. According to Schaap (2021), activities aimed at fostering trust between the police and underserved areas must take into account their needs and wants. A lack of trust among women may also be a result of the fact that men mostly participate in law enforcement, according to study done by Jackson et al. (2012). Therefore, it is crucial that the police address these concerns and work to build trust among all groups.
Changes in Demand for Policing:
The research indicates that alterations in the demand for policing might also be a factor in the
reduction in public trust. According to the findings of Sullivan and O'Keeffe (2017), decreasing proactive policing can result in a reduction in significant crime. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that adopting this strategy will result in a reduction in the people's trust in the police, as the public may view the police as taking a less aggressive role in the prevention of crime. According to Bradford and Jackson (2016), working with the police is an
act of social control that is impacted by trust and local concerns. Furthermore, they claim that
cooperation with the police is a result of these factors. As a result, shifts in the demand for police services should be given serious consideration because they may have an effect on public trust.
Working Within and Upholding Public Consent:
The literature review provides evidence that demonstrates the police do not always work within the rules of public consent and uphold them. According to Schaap (2021), trust-
building techniques ought to incorporate accountability measures including complaint procedures and external oversight. In addition, Staubli (2017) discovered that law enforcement officials in Western Europe were more likely to defend human rights than their Eastern European counterparts. As a result, in order for the police to earn the public's trust
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and ensure their own safety, it is imperative that they operate within and uphold the norms of public consent.
The findings of the literature review and the primary study indicate that there has been a decline in public trust in the police in the UK, and racism and misogyny may be contributing reasons to this decline. In conclusion, these findings suggest that there has been a decline in public trust in the police in the UK. Alterations in the demand for policing services also require careful consideration since they may have an effect on public trust. In conclusion, in order to gain the public's trust, it is essential for law enforcement to operate within the parameters of public consent and to uphold those parameters at all times. There is a need for additional study in this area to better understand the fall in public trust and to identify effective measures to overcome it. These findings have substantial implications for policy makers and law enforcement organizations, and there is a need for more research in this area.
Discussion/Conclusion
This dissertation's objectives were to examine the reasons behind the decline in public confidence in the British police force and the public at large. The examination of the pertinent
past research as well as the empirical research has provided answers to the study questions and significant insights into the results.
To start, the research's results indicate that public confidence in the UK's police force has declined. According to Jackson et al. (2012), trust in the police is essential for them to be able
to carry out their duties effectively. However, over time, this confidence has been deteriorating due to a number of factors, including inappropriate conduct on the part of police
personnel, a lack of accountability, and a lack of transparency in police operations. The results suggest that unpleasant police interactions and perceptions of a lack of justice and impartiality in police procedures have had an impact on public confidence in the police. The
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results also imply that media coverage of police wrongdoing has impacted the public's trust in
the police.
The second issue that has been looked at as part of this study is if racism and sexism are to account for the decline in public confidence in the British police force. The results of a research by Mason et al. (2014) indicate that keeping the public informed and boosting the openness of performance information may assist boost confidence in the police. On the other side, the study shows that certain groups, such women and people belonging to ethnic minorities, have a low degree of confidence in the police because of their personal encounters
with prejudice and discrimination. This shows how crucial it is for law enforcement to address issues with inclusion and diversity in order to build trust across all groups.
Third, the study examined how the need for police services has evolved through time. The need for police has changed over time, with a tendency towards community-oriented policing, claim Sullivan and O'Keeffe (2017). One of their key defenses is this. The study, on the other hand, shows that the police must adapt to the changing societal demands for policing services by being more proactive in preventing crime and by building meaningful relationships with communities. They must meaningfully interact with communities in order to do this.
The study investigated whether or not the police actively maintain and operate within the bounds of public consent. The results of the research conducted by Bradford and Jackson (2016) indicate that cooperation with authorities in enforcing social control requires having confidence in them. The study, on the other hand, shows that in order to build confidence and ensure that their enforcement practices are seen as legitimate and fair, the police must interact
with the communities they serve.
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The results of this research have substantial effects on individuals who create public policy, law enforcement organizations, and society at large. The current decline in public confidence in law enforcement is alarming because it may diminish law enforcement effectiveness and contribute to the breakdown of social order. Due to this, it is essential to look at the underlying issues that have contributed to the decline in public confidence in the police and to develop strategies for doing so.
The police force must prioritize fostering diversity and inclusion as well as ensuring that its actions are regarded as impartial and fair in order to achieve this aim. Additionally, the police must engage with the communities they serve in order to comprehend their wants and worries
and to develop policing strategies that can adapt to changing societal demands for enforcement services. Additionally, the police department's activities must become more transparent and accountable in order to regain the confidence of the general public.
In conclusion, this study has shown the decline in public confidence in the police force in the United Kingdom and the potential causes of that decline. The results suggest that the police should put a higher priority on diversity and inclusion, take a more proactive approach to crime prevention, and engage meaningfully with the communities they serve. In order to create a police department that is more efficient, dependable, and attentive to the needs of all communities, it is essential to address the root causes of the decline in public confidence. The
study has certain shortcomings, such as a limited sample size, and more research is required to strengthen and widen the application of these results.
References
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