NCJ Number
216966
Date Published
June 2006
Length
45 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from the 2005 Public Attitudes Survey of the Queensland Police Service.
Abstract
Highlights of some of the key findings from the 2005 Public Attitudes Survey include: (1) the majority of Queenslanders surveyed had a positive view of the Queensland Police Service (QPS); (2) there has been a steady decline in public tolerance of police misconduct since earlier surveys; (3) dissatisfaction with police has generally shown a steady decline over the years; (4) fewer than 5 percent of respondents stated that they had felt like making a complaint; (5) most people continued to agree that complaints against police officers should be investigated by an independent body rather than by the police themselves; (6) younger respondents, age 18 to 24 years, were more likely to express negative views about the police; (7) the primary reasons for dissatisfaction reported in the survey were that the officer had been rude or unfriendly or had acted unreasonable or unfairly during their encounter; and (8) the primary reason for not making a complaint in 2005 was as in previous years, the belief that it would not do any good. Overall, the 2005 results indicate that the general public perceptions of the police behavior have remained positive. The Public Attitudes Survey measures public attitudes to the QPS and public knowledge and confidence in complaint processes. Changes in attitudes over time have been determined by repeating the survey. This report is divided into three main parts: a brief description of the survey methodology and the sample examines general public perceptions of police behavior and the police image, looks at levels of public satisfaction with QPS, and explores public opinion about complaint processes. The report, the sixth in a series, presents findings from the 2005 survey relating to the QPS. Tables, figures and references