NCJ Number
209838
Journal
International Journal of Police Science & Management Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2005 Pages: 44-61
Date Published
2005
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A total of 25 African immigrants living and working in Turku, Finland, were interviewed about their interactions with police in that city.
Abstract
The respondents (16 men and 9 women), whose ages ranged from 20 to 50, were interviewed face-to-face between June 2000 and November 2002. Respondents reported that both the White majority of the public and the police displayed a negative bias against them. Many reported that when they were engaged in activities in public places, people insulted them and reacted to them with fear and anger. Respondents believed that the Finnish media have had a role in portraying African immigrants negatively. Media reports on the risk of African immigrants being infected with HIV and their disproportionate involvement in crime were viewed by respondents as a primary factor in molding negative views toward them among the public. The respondents generally viewed police behavior toward them and African immigrants in general as a reflection of public attitudes, in that the police tended to be verbally abusive, disrespectful, and biased in assuming that they must be involved in some type of crime. Specific criticisms of the police were being unfairly accused of traffic offenses, unjustified stops and searches while walking on public streets, and rude treatment. 44 references