evaldas visockas law institute of lithuania community and police: the story about “us and them”
TRANSCRIPT
Evaldas VisockasLaw Institute of Lithuania
Community and police: the story about “us and them”
Two groups of the society
Image of police in society is dual. From one side police is a part of the same society. From other side it is institution representing state and its control mechanism
The ones “in control” and the ones being “controlled”
Police is granted the rights and duties are associated with other beliefs and moral values, different from other citizens
Punitive image
Representing state apparatus and linking with power usage with purpose to control the society often is a reason to think of police as of different category of citizens
Corrupt police image
Many people in Lithuania believe that police officers take bribes
Trust and confidence in
police
The same understanding of right and wrong
Procedural fairness Effectiveness of police work Responsibility and accountability
Knowledge of police work
specifics
people do not make difference between different police forces
people expect police officer to do everything
without knowledge about police, people percept police by evaluating possible motives and intentions of police officers
Friendly police officer
the idyllic image of the friendly local police officer on the beat, talking to citizens and solving (minor) problems, disputes or conflicts
the police as your friend for the people and with the people
Encounters with police
perceptions of police not allways based on direct police encouters and personal experience. According survey of Ministry of Interior Affairs (2005-2011) only 26-34% of respondents had a direct contact with police
that means that other part of citizens build their perceptions in other ways
Police in media
Power of creating stories Interpretation of events Creation of expectations
Police views towards citizens
Partners (competent or incompetent)
Victims – loosers. They have deserved it
Criminals – they must be isolated
Different points of view within
organization
Not necessarily police officers have the same understanding with headquarters what are good policing standards
Police culture Understanding of community
policing
