Confidence in the local police

Published

There is a new version of this page. View the latest version.

1. Main facts and figures

  • 78% of people aged 16 and over in England and Wales had confidence in their local police in 2016/17, compared with 76% in 2013/14
  • among the broad ethnic groups, people from Black and Mixed backgrounds had less confidence in their local police than White people in 2016/17
  • in every one of the last 4 years, a smaller percentage of Black Caribbean people had confidence in their local police compared with White British people
Things you need to know

These figures are based on the annual Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).

The CSEW is a face-to-face survey in which people aged 16 or over living in England and Wales are asked about their experiences of a selected range of criminal offences in the previous 12 months.

The CSEW is able to capture a broad range of victim-based crimes experienced by those interviewed, not just those that have been reported to (and recorded by) the police. However, some offences such as homicide and sexual offences are not included in its main estimates.

Statistics on fraud and computer misuse have been included in CSEW data since 2015/16. However, as the data shown here dates back to 2013/14, the statistics and commentary exclude fraud and computer misuse offences.

Keep in mind that all survey estimates are based on a sample of the population, rather than the whole population. This means there’s a degree of uncertainty which is greater when the number of respondents is small. There are usually fewer respondents from ethnic minority groups due to the make-up of the general population – therefore, the level of uncertainty is higher for these groups.

Estimates based on fewer than 50 responses are excluded, as they are considered less reliable.

To increase the reliability of the data when broken down by gender, age group and socio-economic group, 3 years of data have been combined and the estimates presented are averages over this period.

This type of survey methodology means that some statistical tests for significant differences between ethnic groups have not been carried out.

The commentary for this data only includes reliable, or ‘statistically significant’, findings. Findings are statistically significant when we can be confident that if we carried out the same survey on different random samples of the population, 19 times out of 20 we would get similar findings.

Differences are statistically significant if the results for the 2 groups or time periods being compared are within entirely different ranges.

The CSEW does not include:

  • people living in communal establishments (such as care homes, student halls of residence and prisons)
  • crimes against commercial or public sector bodies
What the data measures

This data measures the percentage of the population who said they had overall confidence in the local police. The data is based on responses to the annual Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).

Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with 6 statements relating to their perceptions of the local police:

  • the police can be relied upon when needed
  • the police would treat you with respect
  • the police would treat you fairly
  • the police understand local concerns
  • the police deal with local concerns
  • taking everything into account I have confidence in the police

Those who said they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘Taking everything into account I have confidence in the police in this area’ were judged to have overall confidence in the police.

Survey respondents included both victims and non-victims of crime.

The ethnic categories used in this data

Where possible, this data is broken down by the 18 ethnic categories listed in the 2011 Census. There's a separate category for respondents whose ethnicity wasn't known.

The 2011 Census categories are as follows:

White:

  • English/ Welsh/ Scottish/ Northern Irish/ British
  • Irish
  • Gypsy, Traveller or Irish Traveller
  • Any other White background

Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups:

  • White and Black Caribbean
  • White and Black African
  • White and Asian
  • Any other Mixed/ Multiple ethnic background

Asian/Asian British:

  • Indian
  • Pakistani
  • Bangladeshi
  • Chinese
  • Any other Asian background

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British:

  • African
  • Caribbean
  • Any other Black/African/Caribbean background

Other ethnic group:

  • Arab
  • Any other ethnic group

The number of people from specific ethnic categories surveyed (the ‘sample size’) was too small to draw any firm conclusions when analysed by gender, age group and socio-economic group. Therefore, the data is broken down into the following 5 broad groups:

  • Asian / Asian British
  • Black / African / Caribbean / Black British
  • Mixed / Multiple ethnic groups
  • White
  • Other ethnic group

2. Confidence in the local police by ethnicity over time

Location:
England and Wales
Time period:
2013/14 to 2016/17
Source:
Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending March 2017
Percentage of people who had confidence in their local police, by ethnicity over time
2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Ethnicity 2013/14 % 2013/14 Sample size 2014/15 % 2014/15 Sample size 2015/16 % 2015/16 Sample size 2016/17 % 2016/17 Sample size
All 76 35,075 76 33,015 78 34,922 78 34,767
Asian 79 1,805 78 1,626 79 1,770 80 1,927
Bangladeshi 71 137 82 122 77 133 72 165
Chinese 77 168 77 134 80 171 79 180
Indian 83 759 81 665 81 712 81 757
Pakistani 72 397 71 385 75 425 76 492
Asian other 82 344 81 320 84 329 85 333
Black 70 946 71 894 73 882 71 999
Black African 75 555 77 523 79 518 76 611
Black Caribbean 62 346 60 314 62 303 60 311
Black other withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 45 65 57 62 61 69 77
Mixed 72 336 64 304 72 359 72 369
Mixed White/Asian 75 80 73 87 76 93 85 105
Mixed White/Black African withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 46 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 44 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 44 76 56
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 69 118 68 98 66 132 59 120
Mixed other 74 92 59 75 72 90 72 88
White 76 31,725 76 29,917 79 31,627 79 31,093
White British 75 29,836 75 28,209 78 29,685 78 28,831
White Irish 81 319 80 295 80 286 76 292
White Gypsy/Traveller withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 12 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 10 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 15 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 21
White other 81 1,558 81 1,403 85 1,641 83 1,949
Other 77 232 77 231 81 241 76 345
Arab 79 88 82 82 80 86 77 140
Any other 76 144 73 149 81 155 76 205

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity over time’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity over time’ (CSV)

Summary of Confidence in the local police Confidence in the local police by ethnicity over time Summary

This data shows that:

  • overall, 78% of people aged 16 and over had confidence in their local police in 2016/17, compared with 76% in 2013/14
  • in 2016/17, among the broad ethnic groups, a lower percentage of people from the Black and Mixed ethnic groups had confidence in their local police compared with White people
  • among specific ethnic groups, Black Caribbean people had less confidence in their local police compared with White British people in each of the 4 years studied
  • although the chart and table show other differences between ethnic groups, and changes over time, the sample sizes don’t give the level of certainty required to be confident the differences and changes are reliable

3. Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and gender

Location:
England and Wales
Time period:
2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 (3 years combined)
Source:
Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending March 2017
Percentage of people who had confidence in their local police, by ethnicity and gender
All Male Female
Ethnicity All % All Sample size Male % Male Sample size Female % Female Sample size
Asian 79 5,323 78 2,635 80 2,688
Black 71 2,775 70 1,161 72 1,614
Mixed 70 1,032 71 434 68 598
White 78 92,637 77 42,237 79 50,400
Other 78 817 77 425 78 392

Download table data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and gender’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and gender’ (CSV)

Summary of Confidence in the local police Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and gender Summary

When the figures for the last 3 years are combined, the data shows that:

  • a higher percentage of White women than White men had confidence in their local police
  • although the data shows differences between men and women from other ethnic groups, the sample sizes for these groups don’t give the level of certainty required to be confident the differences are reliable

4. Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and age

Location:
England and Wales
Time period:
2014/15 to 2016/17 (3 years combined)
Source:
Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending March 2017
Percentage of adults who had confidence in their local police, by ethnicity and age group
Asian Black Mixed White Other
Age group Asian % Asian Sample size Black % Black Sample size Mixed % Mixed Sample size White % White Sample size Other % Other Sample size
All 79 5,323 71 2,775 70 1,032 78 92,637 78 817
16-24 77 578 61 263 68 211 77 6,273 68 102
25-34 78 1,348 72 536 73 272 77 12,544 83 186
35-44 79 1,523 77 709 65 222 77 13,929 81 225
45-54 78 814 69 639 70 151 76 16,024 74 128
55-64 82 539 75 336 71 90 76 15,390 77 87
65-74 87 352 78 163 86 54 78 15,912 87 62
75+ 84 169 77 129 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 32 85 12,565 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 27

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and age’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and age’ (CSV)

Summary of Confidence in the local police Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and age Summary

When the figures for the last 3 years are combined, the data shows that:

  • in general, older people had more confidence in their local police than younger people
  • among the Black, Asian, Mixed and Other ethnic groups, confidence in their local police generally increased with age
  • in the 16 to 24 age group, people from the Black and Mixed ethnic groups had less confidence in their local police than White people
  • in the 25-34 age group, Black people had less confidence in the local police than White people
  • in the 35 to 44 age group, people with Mixed ethnicity had less confidence in their local police than White people
  • in the 65-74 age group, Asian people had more confidence in the local police than White people
  • although the data show other apparent differences based on ethnicity and age, the sample sizes don’t give the level of certainty required to be confident the differences are reliable

5. Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and socio-economic group

Location:
England and Wales
Time period:
2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 (3 years combined)
Source:
Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending March 2017
Percentage of people who had confidence in their local police, by ethnicity and socio-economic group
Asian Black Mixed White Other
Socio-economic group Asian % Asian Sample size Black % Black Sample size Mixed % Mixed Sample size White % White Sample size Other % Other Sample size
All 79 5,323 71 2,775 70 1,032 78 92,637 78 817
Managerial and professional occupations 78 1,733 70 810 67 364 80 32,406 76 220
Intermediate occupations 78 1,069 70 484 72 211 78 21,928 74 147
Routine and manual occupations 80 1,445 75 1,018 67 297 75 32,520 84 221
Never worked and long-term unemployed 82 594 76 208 69 52 71 2,810 82 106
Full time students 79 430 65 221 78 102 83 2,361 72 116
Not classified 71 52 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 34 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 6 71 612 withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable 7

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and socio-economic group’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and socio-economic group’ (CSV)

Summary of Confidence in the local police Confidence in the local police by ethnicity and socio-economic group Summary

When the figures for the last 3 years are combined, the data shows that:

  • among full-time students, people from the Black and Other ethnic groups had less confidence in their local police than White people
  • within routine and manual occupations, White people had more confidence in their local police than people with Mixed ethnicity, but less confidence than people from the Asian and Other ethnic groups
  • within intermediate occupations, White people had more confidence in the local police than Black people
  • within managerial and professional occupations, White people had more confidence in the local police than Black people and people with Mixed ethnicity
  • among the long-term unemployed, White people had less confidence in the local police than long-term unemployed people in the Asian and Other ethnic groups

6. Methodology

CSEW estimates are based on analysis of structured face-to-face interviews carried out using computer-assisted personal interviewing. In 2016/17, 74% of respondents completed the survey.

The CSEW is a household sample survey. Estimates are based on a representative sample of the population of England and Wales aged 16 and over. A sample, as used in the CSEW, is a small-scale representation of the population from which it is drawn.

Weighting:

Weighting is used to adjust the results of a survey to make them representative of the population and improve their accuracy.

For example, a survey which contains 25% women and 75% men will not accurately reflect the views of the general population, which we know has an even 50/50 split. Statisticians rebalance or ‘weight’ the survey results to more accurately represent the general population.

Survey weights are usually applied to make sure the survey sample has broadly the same gender, age, ethnic and geographic make up as the general population.

The CSEW collects information from approximately 35,000 households each year. Since those responses reflect only a fraction of the total population of England and Wales, a process is used to give different weights to different households and individuals based on their sex, age and region, in such a way that the weighted distribution of responding household and individuals in these households matches the known distribution in the population as a whole.

First, weighting is applied to the raw data to compensate for:

  • unequal address selection probabilities (given, some areas are more populated than others)
  • the observed variation in response rates between different types of neighbourhood
  • situations in which only one dwelling unit can be selected in multiple ‘dwelling unit' households
  • different probabilities of a respondent being selected based on different sized households

Second, calibration weighting is used to make adjustments for known differences in response rates between different regions and between different age groups.

Socio-economic groups:

The National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) categorises members of the adult public in the UK according to their occupational status.

The NS-SEC categories are:

  • managerial and professional occupations
  • intermediate occupations (clerical, sales, service)
  • routine and manual occupations
  • never worked and long-term unemployed
  • full-time students
  • not classified

Suppression rules and disclosure control

Estimates based on fewer than 50 respondents have been suppressed as they are less reliable.

Rounding

Estimates in the charts and tables are given to the nearest whole number.

You can see more detailed estimates (rounded to 1 decimal place) if you download the data.

Quality and methodology information

7. Data sources

Source

Type of data

Survey data

Type of statistic

National Statistics

Publisher

Office for National Statistics

Publication frequency

Yearly

Purpose of data source

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) is used alongside crime data recorded by police to provide the government with information about the extent and nature of crime in England and Wales.

The survey records all types of crimes experienced by people, including those crimes that may not have been reported to the police.

8. Download the data

Confidence in the local police - Spreadsheet (csv) 113 KB

This file contains the following: ethnicity, year, geography, gender, socio-economic status, value, denominator

Publication release date: 14 August 2018

full page history
  1. updated with new data for 2016/17

From: Office for National Statistics

Previous edition:
  1. Edition published on 23 February 2018
Contents

Share this page