Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Amid the pandemic and the economic crisis Russians express their appreciation for the police performance. Road police, investigating officers, immigration service and drug trafficking department need closer attention.

MOSCOW, November 10, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to the Russian Police and Internal Affairs Servicemen's Day.

Fifty-eight percent of Russians trust the policemen in their region (+4 p.p. since last year). Trust Index reached 23 points (a 8-point rise compared with the previous year).

Transport police (Trust index: 48 p.), dispatch staff (44p.), youth liaison officers (40p.), local district police chiefs (39p.) and criminal investigation officers (34p.) show the highest trust levels.

More than one-third of Russians assess the work of the police in their region in a positive way (41%, +5p.p. since last year). Forty-one percent of Russians give average scores; 14% assess the police performance negatively. Police performance assessment index is 55 points.

The typical policeman is viewed quite positively in the Russian mind. When choosing a trait from a pair of opposite traits, Russians would opt for the following characteristics the typical Russian policeman might possess: neat (80 p.), brave (68p.), friendly (67p.), polite (67p.), strong and firm (67p.), competent and hardworking (66p., each).

Police Performance Assessment Index shows how the Russians assess the work of police in their region. The higher the index value, the higher the assessments. Index is based on the answers to the question “How would you assess the performance of the police in your region?” and calculated by summing up the answers. The “Very good” answer corresponds to “1”; “good” – “0.75”; “average” – “0.5”; “bad” – “0.25”; “very bad” – “0”. Index is measured in points and can vary between 0 and 100.

Index of Trust in Regional Police Officers shows to what extent the Russians trust the police in their region. The higher the index value, the higher the assessments. Index is based on the answers to the question “Do you trust the police officers of your region or not?’” and calculated by finding the difference between positive and negative answers. Index is measured in points and can vary between -100 and 100.

Index of Trust in Police Divisions shows to what extent the Russians trust different police departments/units. The higher the index value, the higher the trust levels. Index is based on the answers to the question “Please assess the level of trust or distrust in the following police divisions/departments…” and calculated by finding the difference between positive and negative answers. Index is measured in points and can vary between -100 and 100.

Index of Police Officer Traits Assessment shows how the Russians assess different traits of the policeman. The higher the index value, the higher the assessments of the police performance levels. Index is based on the answers to the question “Imagine a typical Russian policeman. What traits does he/she possess on a 5-point scale?” and calculated by summing up the answers. If the answer is “The former trait is fully manifested”, the score is “1”; “Likely the former trait” corresponds to “0.75”; “Both traits equally “ – “0.5”; “Likely the latter trait” - “0.25”; “The latter trait is fully manifested” – “0”. Index is measured in points and can vary between -100 and 100.

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on October 26, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. 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 to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

The 2005-2016 results are based on household surveys.

How would you assess the performance of the police in your region in general?* (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

2009

2019

2020

Very good performance

1

4

5

Good

13

32

36

Average

50

47

41

Bad

21

9

9

Very bad

6

4

5

Don’t know

9

4

4

Police Performance Assessment Index

41

54

55

*In 2009, the question referred to militia.

Do you trust the police officers of your region or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

2012

2018

2019

2020

Definitely yes

3

15

13

15

Likely eyes

32

42

41

43

Likely not

40

21

21

19

Definitely not

21

14

18

16

Don’t know

4

8

7

7

Index of Trust in Regional Police Officers

-26

22

15

23

Please assess the level of trust or distrust in the following police divisions/departments… (closed-ended question, one answer per line, % of total respondents)
   

Completely trust

Likely to trust

Likely to distrust

Completely distrust

Don’t know

Index of Trust in Police Departments

Transport police (railroad, marine, airport)

2012

8

45

26

8

13

19

2018

21

44

10

4

21

51

2019

17

49

10

5

19

51

2020

15

47

10

4

24

48

Dispatch

2012

8

45

25

8

14

20

2018

17

46

13

8

16

42

2019

14

49

15

8

14

40

2020

15

50

13

8

14

44

Youth Liaison officer

2012

10

43

20

7

20

26

2018

19

38

11

8

24

38

2019

16

41

13

7

23

37

2020

17

42

12

7

22

40

Police District Officers

2012

8

46

28

9

9

17

2018

18

43

14

10

15

37

2019

15

44

17

10

14

32

2020

17

46

15

9

13

39

Criminal Investigation officers

2012

8

41

27

7

17

15

2018

15

43

15

8

19

35

2019

13

42

16

10

19

29

2020

14

44

15

9

18

34

Patrol and checkpoint police officers

2012

5

38

35

11

11

-3

2018

13

43

18

10

16

28

2019

11

43

19

12

15

23

2020

13

45

19

11

12

28

Tourist police

2018

12

34

14

6

34

26

2019

10

34

16

8

32

20

2020

8

32

9

5

46

26

Inquiry and investigation officers

2018

12

38

16

9

25

25

2019

10

40

19

11

20

20

2020

10

40

18

12

20

20

Immigration police officers

2018

13

34

14

11

28

22

2019

11

35

15

12

27

19

2020

10

35

17

9

29

19

Drug trafficking police officers

2018

17

32

16

14

21

19

2019

14

31

20

15

20

10

2020

15

32

18

14

21

15

Road Safety Inspection officers

2012

5

34

38

15

8

-14

2018

13

40

19

15

13

19

2019

10

42

22

15

11

15

2020

13

40

23

15

9

15

Imagine a typical Russian policeman. What traits does he/she possess on a 5-point scale? (closed-ended question, one answer per line, % of total respondents)
   

The former trait is fully manifested

Likely the former trait

Both traits equally

Likely the latter trait

The latter trait is fully manifested

Index of Police Officer Traits Assessment

Neat or Untidy

2012

20

39

32

7

2

67

2019

46

31

16

4

3

78

2020

46

36

12

4

2

80

Brave or Cowardly

2012

9

25

47

14

5

55

2019

29

25

31

10

5

66

2020

30

31

26

8

5

68

Friendly or Aggressive

2012

8

23

46

18

5

53

2019

26

27

31

9

7

64

2020

28

30

28

9

5

67

Polite, well-mannered or Rude, ill-mannered

2012

10

28

42

15

5

56

2019

29

26

29

10

6

66

2020

29

28

29

9

5

67

Strong, firm or Weak, Slender

2012

12

31

42

12

3

59

2019

27

29

31

9

4

67

2020

27

32

28

7

6

67

Competent or Incompetent

2012

10

27

44

15

4

56

2019

28

24

30

15

3

65

2020

28

28

29

9

6

66

Hard worker or Loafer

2012

8

24

44

17

7

52

2019

29

25

27

11

8

64

2020

29

28

27

10

6

66

Right-minded or wrong-minded

2012

8

19

48

18

7

51

2019

25

26

31

11

7

63

2020

27

26

31

10

6

65

Ready to help or Indifferent

2012

9

24

41

18

8

52

2019

29

26

25

13

7

64

2020

30

26

22

13

9

64

Fair or Unfair

2012

7

19

48

19

7

50

2019

25

23

33

11

8

62

2020

25

23

33

12

7

62

Open-minded or hypocritical

2012

8

23

44

17

8

52

2019

25

23

28

14

10

60

2020

25

24

29

14

8

61

Athletic, well fit or Unfit

2012

9

25

42

19

5

54

2019

21

24

30

15

10

58

2020

22

26

31

14

7

61

Uncorrupted, honest or a Bribe-taker

2012

6

15

40

24

15

43

2019

22

22

33

13

10

58

2020

25

20

33

14

8

60

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.

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