Students’ Perception of the Interplay of Police Performance and Public Trust

Abstract

Effective policing relies on public trust and support. However, trust in law enforcement has declined in many communities—police performance factors like attentiveness, reliability, and responsiveness shape levels of public trust. The researchers surveyed 300 criminology students to analyze the relationship between police performance and public trust. Criminology students were chosen as the target group because they will soon be entering the field of law enforcement. Measures included police performance dimensions and indicators of public trust (procedural justice, effectiveness, values, integrity). Students rated police performance highly, especially responsiveness. Trust indicators were also high. Police attentiveness, reliability, and responsiveness correlate strongly with procedural justice, police effectiveness, values, and integrity. Further, Multiple Regression Analysis revealed that police performance significantly predicts public trust. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend: 1) providing comprehensive training programs for police officers focusing on community policing, communication skills, de-escalation, and bias awareness; 2) establishing strict monitoring systems and adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct; 3) evaluating police performance regularly through assessments and metrics; and 4) engaging communities through partnerships, meetings, and community policing initiatives. These recommendations aim to strengthen trust-based policing and support achieving U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 16 of encouraging peaceful and inclusive communities, ensuring equal access to justice for everyone, and constructing efficient, responsible, and inclusive organizations at every level.