‘I can see that it’s bad for them’: Third party judgements about the effect of procedural injustice on mental health and relationships with the police

• In Event: The Unintended Consequences of Policing

Abstract

This study investigates why individuals react strongly to procedural injustice experienced by others, particularly in the context of police interactions. One potential explanation is that people recognise the marginalisation and psychological harm caused by such injustices. An online experiment (N = 300) examined whether exposure to procedurally unjust police behaviour toward crime victims influenced participants' perceptions of the victim’s marginalisation and mental health outcomes, as well as their own attitudes toward the police. Results indicated that exposure to procedural injustice led to more negative assessments of its psychological impact, reinforcing the view that such experiences contribute to social exclusion and mental distress. Moreover, witnessing unjust treatment diminished trust, legitimacy, and identification with the police, with these effects driven by recognition of the victim’s psychological harm. These findings underscore the central role of perceived psychological harm in shaping public reactions to police misconduct and highlight the necessity of addressing this harm to rebuild trust and improve police-community relationships.

Authors

• Ben Bradford, University College London

• Arabella Kyprianides, University College London