Understanding trust in the police: defining trust, trustworthiness, and confidence.

Abstract

This thesis explores the concept of trust in the police, focusing on defining trust and its related constructs, trustworthiness and confidence. Trust in the police is essential for effective law enforcement, promoting public cooperation, and reinforcing police legitimacy (Tankebe, 2010; Terpstra, 2011; Tyler, 2006a) . The study emphasizes the interconnected yet distinct aspects of trust, trustworthiness, and confidence. Trust is defined as the willingness to be vulnerable to police judgment, trustworthiness refers to the characteristics and behaviors that render the police trustworthy, while confidence relates to expectations formed from past interactions (Jackson & Bradford, 2019; Jackson & Bradford, 2010; Tyler & Jackson, 2013). The literature review identifies significant terminological confusion and diverse operationalizations of trust. Procedural justice, which highlights fairness, respect, and transparent decision-making by police, stands out as a prevalent framework in research. Additionally, concepts such as distributive justice and police effectiveness are vital for understanding trustworthiness. Employing a scoping review methodology, the study systematically maps existing research to pinpoint gaps and inconsistencies in measuring trust in the police. This research contributes to the broader discourse on trust in the police by offering insights for developing more accurate and comprehensive measures. By clarifying the key concepts and their interrelated nature within research, the study aims to contribute to the efficacy of measuring trust in the police in the Netherlands.