Judgement on the Police From the Population's Point of View in General as Well as the Main Results Found by Studies of Young People

• NCJ Number: 89578
• Journal: Schriftenreihe der Polizei-Fuehrungsakademie Issue: 3 Dated: (1982) Pages: 242-247
• Author(s): W Tacke
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: Lecture given at the Police Command Academy, Muenster, W. Germany

Annotation

Public attitudes and evaluations of police performance were surveyed in West Germany in 1967, 1976, 1970, and 1979, with special attention to the opinions of youths.

Abstract

Equal numbers of respondents (44 percent) considered police actions to be appropriate in both earlier surveys. While in 1967 only 13 percent thought the police too lenient toward demonstrators, that percentage was 26 in 1976. The younger the respondents, the more critical they were in both earlier surveys of police overreaction. The latter two surveys tapped citizens' thoughts upon seeing a police officer: 13 percent associated the sight with order and protection in 1970, while 24 percent had such thoughts in 1979. In general, the most recent survey of overall youth attitudes indicates that present-day juvenile and young adults are surprisingly satisfied with the political and socioeconomic conditions and therefore with police performance. Those reporting dissatisfaction connected it with private family difficulties rather than criticism of the social system. Most consider personal fulfillment a priority over social or political involvement. Tables are provided.