Trust in the Police in Europe: The Role of Social Trust

• In Event: Attitudes Toward Police: International Perspectives

Abstract

Research in the field of trust in justice has intensified during the last years. Core arguments base on theories of procedural justice, saying that fair and respectful treatments by officers largely contribute to institutional legitimacy. Cultural features such as social trust are considered only rarely. When they are taken into account, the focus is on wider governmental institutions such as trust in political parties or the parliament rather than on the police itself. In order to close this gap, results about the impact of social trust on trust in the police in Europe will be presented, comparing Eastern and Western European Countries.

Author

• Silvia Staubli, University of Fribourg, Switzerland