Public annoyance and complaining about the police: Findings from the British Crime Survey

Public Annoyance and Complaining about the Police: findings from the 2006/07 British Crime Survey

Public Annoyance and Complaining about the Police: findings from the 2006/07 British Crime Survey - Executive Summary

This study examines the results from the questions that form part of the ‘Experience of the police; attitudes to the police’ module in the British Crime Survey (BCS).

This focuses on the respondents’ interactions and perceptions of the police and includes a number of questions around ‘annoyance’ with, and complaining about the police. Past studies looking at these issues tend to be dated or focus on people’s attitudes to complaining rather than their experiences. This study sheds new light on this area by examining up to date, actual experiences of members of the public.

The main focus of the research report is primary analysis of the 2006/07 BCS. A statistical technique called ‘logistic regression’ was also used. This indicates what characteristics are more likely to exhibit a certain outcome to provide further insight into the factors associated with annoyance and complaining about the police. In addition, there is a short trend analysis of the BCS data between 2001/02 and 2006/07 to explore changes in responses, including a look at changes by ethnic group over the six year period.

The study explores the respondents’ demographics, lifestyle, attitudes towards the police and contact with the police. The aim of the study was to inform thinking about the public’s use of the police complaints system and to specifically look at three issues:

• The first of these concerned the extent to which members of the public have felt ‘really annoyed’ about the behaviour of a police officer and if they have decided to make a complaint.
• The second concerned why people do not complain after such an experience and whether awareness of how to make a complaint and other access issues have a significant role in a complaint being made.
• The third concerned the experiences of those who did make a complaint and specifically whether they were satisfied with the way their complaint was handled.