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Police Satisfaction Hits Historic Low in England and Wales

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The number of people satisfied with the police's handling of crime has dropped to a historical low in England and Wales, a new survey has revealed. Only 49% of respondents believed the police do an excellent or good job, down from 62% in 2011-12. Meanwhile, victim satisfaction with police handling of crime has also reached a new low, with just 51% of respondents saying they were satisfied. StopWatch executive director Habib Kadiri described the results as evidence of a "growing disillusionment with the police," and questioned whether the service is still "fit for purpose."

Key Takeaways:

  • Victim satisfaction with police handling of crime in England and Wales has dropped to a historical low, with just 51% of respondents saying they were satisfied.
  • Only 49% of respondents believed the police do an excellent or good job, down from 62% in 2011-12.
  • The survey results are consistent with anecdotal evidence from overpoliced and underprotected communities, which suggests a growing disillusionment with the police.
  • The number of people satisfied with the police's handling of crime in Thames Valley is lower than the national average, with 50% of respondents saying the local force does an excellent or good job.
  • The Home Office has assigned a "named, contactable" officer to every community in England and Wales to handle reports of crimes like anti-social behaviour.

Statistics:

  • 49% of respondents across England and Wales believed the police do an excellent or good job, down from 62% in 2011-12.
  • 51% of respondents who had been a victim of crime in the recent year said they were satisfied with how the police handled the matter, down from 55% in the previous year.
  • 50% of respondents in Thames Valley said the police force does an excellent or good job, in line with the previous year but down from 60% in 2019-20.
  • 722 people aged 16 and over were surveyed in Thames Valley in the year to March.
  • 28,896 survey respondents said they believed the police do an excellent or good job across England and Wales.
  • 49% of those surveyed in Thames Valley agreed that the local force does "deal with local concerns," above the 46% average across England and Wales.

Sources:

  • Habib Kadiri, StopWatch executive director ("The survey results tally with anecdotal evidence from overpoliced and under protected communities, which suggests a growing disillusionment with the police.")
  • Kevin Blowe, Network for Police Monitoring campaigns and media coordinator ("Even though the number of police officers is higher now than it was in 2011, the Westminster consensus remains 'more officers' and 'more visibility' as solutions to this issue, but never more resources for alternatives in local communities that might genuinely make people feel safer.")
  • Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, National Police Chiefs' Council chair ("A decade of underinvestment has left police forces with insufficient resource to meet public expectations, alongside complex and changing criminality, degraded facilities, systems and technology, and restrictions on the type of workforce.")
  • Home Office spokesperson ("Neighbourhood policing has been decimated since 2010, taking officers away from being out on the beat where they build relationships, trust and safety within communities.")

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