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

Thank you for your attention

Evaldas VisockasLaw Institute of Lithuaniaevaldas.visockas@teise.org