Public Attitudes to the Police, 1980

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P><br>The purpose of this survey was to collect information concerning the public's attitude towards the police.<br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions<br>
Whether police are doing a good or bad job in area, assessment of success in tackling crime, opinion of police knowledge and understanding of area. Amount of confidence in police held by local people, whether there are sufficient numbers in area, whether patrols should be by foot or car, whether feels an elected body (e.g. local council) should have more/less control over police. Whether all sections of the population are treated equally (listing of groups - e.g. immigrants, homosexuals, middle class people). Opinion of treatment of suspects and of any allegations of police mistreatment, by whom complaints should be investigated. To what extent police should use own judgement in applying the law, whether certain types of crime are dealt with too harshly/leniently (e.g. motoring offences, possession of drugs, suspicious behaviour ('sus'), sexual offences etc.), whether believes police officers in area take bribes. Whether media reports of police matters are biased and in which way, whether police favour pickets or employers in industrial disputes. Whether respondent regards police in general as friends/enemies/neutral enforcers of the law, whether public have sufficient understanding of problems police face.<br>
Background Variables<br>
Sex, age cohort, marital status, social class, ethnic group, children in household, occupation of head of household, work status (respondent).