Analysis of the Nature and Quality of Relations between Police Officers and Residents in Slovenia

Abstract

This paper focuses on the study of relations between police officers and residents in Slovenia. Perceptions of police officers and residents regarding mutual respect, quality of relations, and willingness to cooperate with police officers in performing fundamental tasks and community policing were compared. The sample is comprised of 520 police officers and 1,266 residents from 24 Slovenian municipalities and police stations. Results of t-tests and ANOVA showed that differences in perceptions of relations and willingness to cooperate with police officers in performing fundamental tasks and community policing exist between police officers and residents. Results of regression analyses showed that factors quality of relations, willingness to cooperate with police officers in performing fundamental tasks, gender, personal income and size of the municipality correlate with willingness of residents to cooperate with police officers in community policing. Their willingness to cooperate with police officers in performing fundamental tasks is highly positively correlated to their willingness to cooperate with police officers in community policing. These findings indicate that residents do not differentiate between the various activities of the police, but they are generally willing to cooperate with the police. In conclusion, findings of the study are discussed, limitations are highlighted, and proposals for future research are pointed out.