Police Officers Perception of Threats in Urban and Rural Environments

Povzetek

Urbanisation has led to many differences in social interactions and the nature of crime in urban and rural environments. In the paper, police officers' perception of threats in urban and rural environments in Slovenia are analysed. The results of the survey, conducted during the winter months of 2011-2012 and spring 2017, showed that police officers in rural environments perceive neighbourhood safety more positively, while police officers in urban environments perceive public disorder and alcohol abuse as greater threats. The comparison between police officers' perceptions of threats in both time-periods showed that both perception of security threats and socio-economic disadvantages have decreased. In addition, statistically significant differences were identified between police officers perception of neighbourhood safety, security threat of public disorder, and socio-economic disadvantages in different time-periods.