Linking perceptions of corruption to behavior in fighting corruption: a case study of Flemish police officers

• In Event: Controlling Police Misconduct

Abstract

Our study on perceptions of corruption consist of a large scale population survey (2256 citizens and 350 police officers). The results of this quantitative study revealed that there exists a significant difference between occupational status groups as well as between police departments in the perception of corruption. Specialized anti-corruption officers are more severe but also more selective in judging the situations compared to other police services. Furthermore, high occupational status respondents and police officers have more perceptions of corruption in common than lower status groups. These findings were refined on the basis of qualitative focus groups with police respondents. It revealed that although the perceptions of corruption of police officers are relative stable over time, the societal context as well as individual elements determines the link between their perceptions and their behaviour in the field. This presentation elaborates on these findings and links the quantitative and qualitative data of our research. The societal relevance of these findings for the fight against corruption are discussed and future avenues for research are explored.

Authors

• Arne Dormaels, Ghent University

• Marleen Easton, Ghent University