Perceptions of Police and Policing in a Rural County of England

Abstract

Crime and disorder audits provide the opportunity to identify and address the concerns local people express about local policing. This paper discusses the findings of the 2001 and 2004 Cornwall Crime Surveys (CCSs) and identifies public perceptions of police and policing in the county. The 2004 survey is used to compare those holding more favourable views with those who are critical of the police. The findings are then used to test the hypothesis that those who are more critical of the public police will be more positive about plural policing alternatives. The findings indicate that rural residents' concerns over public safety are accentuated by their concerns that the police in Cornwall are less accessible than those in urban areas and they are generally supportive of increasing the policing mix. However, they clearly see improvements to the public police as the preferred solution.