Trust in the Police: What is to be Done?

Abstract

Trust in the police in England and Wales has diminished steadily over the past decade. Police still enjoy levels of trust that other some institutions might envy, so calling this a crisis risks over-statement. Yet, declining trust and intense media, political and social pressure on police—symbolised by a number of high-profile instances of police failure and malpractice—certainly makes many working in and around policing feel like it is a crisis. And trust has gone down; action is needed to protect the idea of policing by consent, the bedrock ideology that underpins British policing. In this article, we review some potential solutions to declining trust, while also acknowledging some costs and difficulties. We close by noting that, despite its importance, public trust is not enough to ensure ‘good policing’, and that more is needed in terms of transparency, accountability and governance.