Tekijät

• Ministry of the Interior. Police Department

Asiasanat

citizens, crime and security, crime victims, evaluation, offences, personal safety, police services, police-community relationship, public services, quality, roles

Sisällön kuvaus

The Police Barometer charts Finnish opinion on safety and security, police activities and the quality of police services. Firstly, the respondents evaluated the public and private services provided in their area of residence. They were also presented with a set of questions concerning Finnish internal security and the role of the police. For example, they assessed the ability of the police to ensure law and order, the different tasks of the police and their priorities, and the threat of international crime in Finland.

Sense of security and fear of crime were studied by asking how worried respondents were about various things such as assaults, burglaries, drink driving and sexual harassment. They were asked how safe they feel being at home during the day or in the city centre after dark. Views on the crime situation in the respondents' neighbourhood were probed. Respondents were also asked whether they had been victims of crime.

Respondents' opinions on the reachability and visibility of the police were examined by asking which number they would call when needing the police, how often they see police patrols in their neighbourhood and what is the distance from their home to the nearest police station. The quality of police services were assessed with questions about the last time respondents contacted the police and reasons for doing so.

Respondents assessed the attitudes of the police towards people from different cultures and their own trust in the activities of the police. They also rated how well the police have succeeded in, for example, solving crimes, preventing crime, keeping in touch with citizens, and providing help quickly.

In conclusion, respondents were asked how long they had lived in the area and do they themselves or does a close relative work in the police force. Background variables included respondent's gender, age, economic activity, occupational group, level of education, marital status, accomodation type, number of dependant children, household's annual gross income, household size, and province and region of residence.