"The Police and Public Opinion in Britain." American Behavioral Scientist, 39 (No.
4, February 1996), 421-432.
In Britain, public opinion surveys play an increasing role in monitoring and guiding police accountability.
Some of these surveys have been national in scope, but local police forces in England and Wales are
also conducting surveys to gauge the public's views of what police priorities should be and what their
experiences with police have been. Not all of the news that comes from these surveys is good. During the
1980s, the British Crime Survey (BCS) and other surveys documented a sharp decline in public
satisfaction with police and in their respect for the occupation. Trust in the police has declined, as has
confidence in the legal system generally. Both national and local force surveys point to the same
conclusion and document disproportionate declines in satisfaction with policing among racial minorities.
This article summarizes the findings of a number of the most recent British surveys. There is a review of
trends in satisfaction with British policing and evidence from the surveys about the specific sources of
public discontent with police work. The article also examines popular assessments of where the police
should be focusing their attention. The results put police administrators in somewhat of a conundrum, for
they have to make harder choices than the British public is willing to make about their priorities.
4, February 1996), 421-432.
In Britain, public opinion surveys play an increasing role in monitoring and guiding police accountability.
Some of these surveys have been national in scope, but local police forces in England and Wales are
also conducting surveys to gauge the public's views of what police priorities should be and what their
experiences with police have been. Not all of the news that comes from these surveys is good. During the
1980s, the British Crime Survey (BCS) and other surveys documented a sharp decline in public
satisfaction with police and in their respect for the occupation. Trust in the police has declined, as has
confidence in the legal system generally. Both national and local force surveys point to the same
conclusion and document disproportionate declines in satisfaction with policing among racial minorities.
This article summarizes the findings of a number of the most recent British surveys. There is a review of
trends in satisfaction with British policing and evidence from the surveys about the specific sources of
public discontent with police work. The article also examines popular assessments of where the police
should be focusing their attention. The results put police administrators in somewhat of a conundrum, for
they have to make harder choices than the British public is willing to make about their priorities.
British Policing
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