Building public confidence

 Building public confidence in the criminal justice system has been a central theme of government policy in recent years, and is reflected in the Government’s single confidence target for police forces. The policing green paper From the neighbourhood to the national: policing our communities together recommends that confidence be fostered by forging solid and lasting bonds between local communities and the police. The public should have the chance to drive local priorities, and the police should provide information on what is being achieved, as well as where there is still work to be done

In other areas of the criminal justice system, increased support is being provided to victims and witnesses of crime, for instance via Witness Care Units and the new National Victims Service. A key aim of these services is to build public confidence in the criminal justice service, resulting in a greater willingness to act as a witness in the future, and ultimately an increased conviction rate.

We are ideally placed to help you understand what drives public confidence in the criminal justice system. In 2008 we conducted eight discussion groups and a telephone survey for Louise Casey’s Crime and Communities Review to examined public confidence in the criminal justice system. The research findings fed directly into her Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime report. In 2009 we carried out a workshop for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to explore the public appetite for police performance information, and conducted discussion groups for the National Police Improvement Agency to understand the types of information the public want from their local police force.