Sociological Monitoring «Public Safety and Trust to Law Enforcement Agencies» as a Step to Developing Community Policing in Kharkiv Region

Abstract

The results of sociological survey of Kharkiv and Kharkiv oblast citizens regarding public safety and trust to law enforcement agencies conducted by Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs in cooperation with the Main department of the National Police in the Kharkiv region, supported by the European Union Advisory Mission in the frames of «Annual safety program of the Kharkiv region» and «Regional program of public safety and order in the Kharkiv region 2016 – 2017» are presented. The authors have analyzed a problems of assessment of police work through purely technical and quantitative measures. Authors emphasized the importance of gathering and responding to public perceptions as a basic Community policing elements among which are the following: proximity, visibility, approachability of police; long term problems solving; proactivity, prevention; multi agency partnerships; active citizen involvement. The authors noticed that research should be frequent and the outcome should influence the drafting of an annual multi-agency community safety strategy (CSS). The results of the consultation, together with the CSS itself should then be published openly so that citizens can be reassured that their concerns are reflected in the priorities not just of the police but of other related agency stakeholders. The authors have analyzed a number of subjective and behavioral indicators, including: Public Safety, Evaluation of police activity in the mirror of public opinion, Trust to law enforcement agencies, Interaction with police, Victimological indicators, Problems of law enforcement activity in the local community and Expectations from law enforcement agencies. Authors consider this survey as a step from «Response Driven Policing» towards authentic «Community Policing» in Kharkiv region.