PSC survey: Public not impressed by police performance

PEOPLE want to see more action by the police to tackle corruption in both the police service and the wider society.

These were amongst the findings of a a survey on public perceptions of the police which was contained in the Police Service Commission (PSC) Annual Report 2023, laid in the House of Representatives on November 15.

The survey polled 2,051 people from November 27-December 15, 2023, via in-person questioning by staff of the Services Commissions Department.

The findings were presented in four figures consisting of a pie chart and five bar charts.

The first chart, on people’s general satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the police service, based on their own interactions, found 53 per cent unhappy (36 per cent very dissatisfied and 17 per cent dissatisfied), compared to 29 per cent happy (8.3 per cent very satisfied and 20.8 per cent satisfied). About 18 per cent were either neutral or gave no response.

A bar chart showed high levels of dissatisfaction with nine areas of police performance.

Some 75 per cent – or three quarters – of people were unhappy at how police dealt with white-collar crime. Of these 51 per cent were very dissatisfied and 24 per cent dissatisfied.

Similarly, 70 per cent were unhappy at how the police handled corruption in the police service, with 47.4 per cent very dissatisfied and 22.9 per cent dissatisfied.

Fifty-two per cent of people were unhappy at the level of police visibility in their community, 44 per cent at the nearest town in the community and 27 per cent on the highway.

Some 57 per cent were dissatisfied and very dissatisfied at the job the police did in their community and 66 per cent in the country.

Some 37 per cent were unhappy at the amount of information the police gave out on safety, 29 were very satisfied and satisfied and 33 per cent neutral.

Police community meetings earned a mere 16 per cent public approval, with 35 per cent neutral and 49 per cent unhappy.

Another table, on public trust in the police service, indicated areas of public disquiet. Some 61 per cent of people were upset at the police’s provision of feedback to their customers.

Some 60 per cent disliked the degree of follow-up by the police on reports made. Some 58 per cent complained about the police’s response to calls for assistance and the same figure complained about the police allegedly not following the law in their community.

Few people expressed positive views in a table of views on any improvement in the police’s ability to solve crime, while many people had no opinion or a negative view. Ten per cent had no improved view on the ability of the police to reduce crime, 49 per cent had no opinion and 41 thought negatively.

Some 11 per cent of people had an improved belief the police could solve crimes, 47 per cent were neutral and 43 per cent said not so.

Other expressions of a low public confidence in the police’s ability were: to catch criminals (42 per cent negative views), investigate crimes (42 per cent negative), protect people from harm (43 per cent negative) and protect property (44 per cent negative).

In this table the public had very evenly divided views on the ability of the police to maintain order on the highway. Some 34 per cent had an improved confidence, 35 per cent were neutral and 30 per cent had a negative view.

The survey revealed the public is living in great fear of crime. When asked their fear of eight scenarios, public fear had worsened over recent years – 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Some 85 per cent fear a friend or relative becoming a crime victim, up from 80 per cent in 2020 and 81 per cent in 2022. In 2023 some 82 per cent feared becoming a victim of a robbery, house-breaking or home invasion, up from 73 per cent in 2020 and 77 per cent in 2022. Some 77 per cent fear leaving their doors open when awake, up from 69 per cent and 73 per cent previously.

Seventy-five per cent fear being attacked by a stranger in their community, according to 2023 figures. Three quarters or 75 per cent of people are afraid to be on the street in their neighbourhood at night. and 63 per cent are afraid to drive in their community at night.

Half or 50 per cent of people are afraid to be on the streets in their own neighbourhood during the day.