NCJ Number
59771
Journal
International Annals of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 1 & 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 167-188
Date Published
1978
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER EXPLORES SOME ASPECTS OF POLICE-MINORITY RELATIONS IN ENGLAND, DRAWING ON OBSERVATIONS AND INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE AND MINORITY GROUP MEMBERS, AS WELL AS A SURVEY OF WEST INDIANS AND WHITES.
Abstract
THE SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT IN LONDON IN 1972-73 AND INVOLVED 334 WEST INDIANS AND 438 WHITES. A COMPOSITE MEASURE OF GENERAL ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE WAS DEVISED AND SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF THE MEASURE WERE EXAMINED IN HOPES THAT THEY WOULD SHED LIGHT UPON THE IMAGE OF THE POLICE IN LONDON. SURVEY QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON THE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR POLICE, WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH POLICE, FEAR OF THE POLICE, AND EVALUATION OF POLICE PERFORMANCE. RESULTS SHOWED STRIKING BLACK AND WHITE DIFFERENCES, WITH WEST INDIANS GENERALLY HAVING A LOWER REGARD FOR THE POLICE IN ALL AREAS. MINORITY GROUP PERSONS AS WELL AS YOUNG WHITES WERE SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF POLICING THEY RECEIVE AND THE OBJECT OF THEIR DISCONTENT WAS ORDER-MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE ASPECTS OF THE POLICE FUNCTION. THUS IF THERE IS A NEW CONCENSUS ABOUT POLICING IN BRITAIN, IT IS THAT MANY PERSONS FEEL DEPRIVED OF THE RESPECT AND PROTECTION TO WHICH AS CITIZENS THEY FEEL THEY ARE ENTITLED. AS POLICE IN BOTH AMERICA AND ENGLAND EMPHASIZE THEIR ROLE AS PROFESSIONALS IN CRIME-FIGHTING, THEY INCUR A QUALIFIED APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO A LOSS THE RESPECT WHICH HAD BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE MORE DIFFUSE ASPECTS OF THEIR FUNCTION. AS CITIZENS BECOME MORE SENSITIZED TO THE LIMITED ACCOUNTABILITY OF POLICE TO THE PUBLIC, THE DEMAND FOR CURTAILMENT OF POLICE POWER GROWS AND THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE POLICERS AND THE POLICED BECOME SALIENT ISSUES FOR DEBATE. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)