TY - JOUR

T1 - National identity and distrust in the police

T2 - The case of North West Wales

AU - Machura, Stefan

AU - Jones, Stephanie

AU - Würgler, Alexandra

AU - Cuthbertson, Joanna

AU - Hemmings, Alannah

N1 - Stefan Machura is Professor of Criminology at the School of Social Sciences, Bangor University. Stephanie Jones is a PhD student and Alexandra Würgler a BA student at the same school. Joanna Cuthbertson and Alannah Hemmings have graduated with MAs in autumn 2017.

PY - 2019/1

Y1 - 2019/1

N2 - Trust in the police, as defined by perceived procedural fairness, just decisions, and effectivity, may be impacted by deep political divisions among the population, especially where citizens adopt opposing national identities. In Europe, North West Wales is one such area. Nationalism is intensified by language issues (Welsh vs. English) and historical experiences of British institutions. A sample of 207 residents living within the local authority of Gwynedd were asked to take part in the study. A questionnaire survey addressed how much trust in the police ultimately depends upon national identity as expressed by preference for the Welsh language, trust in British institutions, and attitudes towards political symbols. Other factors tested included personal experience of the police, the influence of news reports and police TV series, as well as the perceived effectiveness of the police in addressing crime. Trust in UK institutions, preference for the Welsh language, and news reporting were found to have most influence on trust in the police.

AB - Trust in the police, as defined by perceived procedural fairness, just decisions, and effectivity, may be impacted by deep political divisions among the population, especially where citizens adopt opposing national identities. In Europe, North West Wales is one such area. Nationalism is intensified by language issues (Welsh vs. English) and historical experiences of British institutions. A sample of 207 residents living within the local authority of Gwynedd were asked to take part in the study. A questionnaire survey addressed how much trust in the police ultimately depends upon national identity as expressed by preference for the Welsh language, trust in British institutions, and attitudes towards political symbols. Other factors tested included personal experience of the police, the influence of news reports and police TV series, as well as the perceived effectiveness of the police in addressing crime. Trust in UK institutions, preference for the Welsh language, and news reporting were found to have most influence on trust in the police.

KW - media representation of police

KW - national identity

KW - North Wales

KW - procedural justice

KW - trust in police

KW - Welsh language

U2 - 10.1177/1477370818764835

DO - 10.1177/1477370818764835

M3 - Article

VL - 16

SP - 60

EP - 80

JO - European Journal of Criminology

JF - European Journal of Criminology

SN - 1741-2609

IS - 1

ER -