Levels of trust and performance approvals have increased over the recent year reaching an all-time high.

MOSCOW, November 9, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to Day of the employee of internal affairs held in Russia.

Two-thirds of Russians trust the policemen of their region (67%, a record high); in 2015 and 2016 this share was at about 46-47%. The distrust levels have decreased to 27%. The highest levels of trust go to the police control room officers (71%), district police officers (70%), youth liaison officers (68%), the transport police (67%), the police patrol and checkpoint service officers (65%).

At the moment, the police performance index has hit its high over the entire measurement period (58 p.p. out of 100 vs 46 p.p. in 2015 and 2016). Forty-six percent of Russians assess the police performance positively (which is twice higher than the 2016 record of 24%).  The number of disapprovals has decreased from 21% to 7%, respectively. For the first time, the share of positive assessments prevails over the share of average assessments (43%).

The public image of policeman is rather positive: Russians describe him/her as a neat (77%), polite (66%), friendly (66%), of good character (65%), courageous (65%), and competent (64%) person who is ready to help (64%). Compared to the 2012 assessments, the public assessments have considerably improved. Respondents’ evaluations are drawn from their experiences with the road traffic police officers (33% of Russians have interacted with them over the recent year; vs 20% in 2012) and district police officers (22%; previously 15%).

The latest survey evidence shows that 22% of Russians know their district police officer personally; a further 27% know what position he/she holds (the survey was conducted among full-aged persons). The total percentage of such answers has reached 49% over a year (vs 36% in 2016).  There is a positive correlation between trust levels/police performance assessments and the fact whether a respondent knows the district police officer or not.  

The levels of respondents’ readiness to help the police are high: 90% of respondents say they would provide details of an incident they witnessed; 74% would agree to act as a witness.

Today cases of misconduct of police officers are cited less frequently that a few years ago: respondents mention rude behavior (6%). Eighty-one percent of Russians did not witness any violations conducted by the police officers (vs 62% in 2009).

Police Performance Index shows how Russians assess the work of the police in their region. The higher the value of index, the better the police performance assessments are. Index is based on the question “How do you generally assess the police performance in your region?” and calculated through answer summarization. The answers “It is very good” corresponds to the coefficient “1”; “It is good” – “0.75”; “It is average” - “0.5”; “It is bad” - “0.25”; “It is very bad” -“0". Index is measured in points and can vary between -100 and 100.

The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on November 3-4, 2017. The survey involved 1,800 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

The 2005-2016 results are based on household surveys.

*In 2005, 2009, 2010 the question was related to militia

*In 2005, 2009, the question was related to militia.

*in 1990, the Russian nationwide survey was representative of the urban and rural populations aged 16 and over (n=1962)

** In 1990 the question was related to the militia

*in 2009 the question was related to militia

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