The long-term effects of policing the COVID-19 pandemic: Public attitudes toward the police in the ‘new normal’

The long-term effects of policing the COVID-19 pandemic: Public attitudes toward the police in the ‘new normal’

Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice

The long-term effects of policing the COVID-19 pandemic: Public attitudes toward the police in the ‘new normal’

Gali Perry, Tal Jonathan-Zamir, Roni Factor | Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the reality of police agencies worldwide. Since January 2020, police were required to enforce a long, constantly changing, often controversial list of emergency regulations, while striving to keep themselves and the citizens they interact with safe. In this study, we examine if and how attitudes changed as the pandemic progressed. Our two-wave panel study reveals that following initial strong support for the police, public sentiments dropped. This trend was evidenced both in evaluations of pandemic-policing and in more general views of the police. Based on these findings, we conclude that in contrast to the short-term, a long-term transition into crisis-policing may bear significant costs in terms of citizens’ support and willingness to comply with the police and the law, precisely at a time when voluntary compliance is most needed.

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Perry, G,. Jonathan-Zamir, T., & Factor, R. (2021). The long-term effects of policing the COVID-19 pandemic: Public attitudes toward the police in the ‘new normal’. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. https://academic.oup.com/policing/advance-article/doi/10.1093/police/paab070/6428103?searchresult=1

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