Public trust in the police is a matter of great importance for police
organizations and governments all over Europe. The police, the public,
and the pursuit of trust offers a unique perspective on both citizens'
trust in the police and police trustbuilding strategies from
internationally comparative and dynamic angles. It applies rigorous
statistical analyses and in-depth case study research.
This book assesses differences and developments in trust in the police
across Europe over the past decades. Guided by three theoretical
perspectives - instrumentalism, proximity policing and procedural
justice -, it also examines what factors on the national and individual
level can explain trust in the police. These findings are contrasted
with the invention and development of police trustbuilding strategies in
England & Wales, Denmark and the Netherlands. The book inquires how and
when trust in the police was first defined as a policy problem, what
solutions or strategies have since been formulated to address it, and
how we can understand differences between these three countries.
The author shows that trust in the police cannot be understood without
taking into account police trust-building strategies, nor can these
strategies be grasped without an appreciation of national and local
context and history. This study will appeal to all readers with an
interest in the relationship between citizens and the police, including
scholars, policy makers and police officers.
