Abstract Public confidence in UK policing has declined recently. In 2023, UK police training and recruitment were reformed, but understanding the influence of this upon public confidence is currently limited. Sixty-seven participants in the Avon and Somerset Police District in the UK took part in a mixed-methods study, exploring self-reported perceived knowledge of police training and education and aspects influencing public confidence in local police forces. We found a positive relationship between self-reported perceived knowledge of police training and confidence in policing, but participants reported knowing very little about training procedures for police officers and that negative high-profile media stories influenced their confidence in local policing. Implications for police practice in the UK include improving communication between local police and communities, particularly around specialist skills, knowledge, and training undertaken by police officers, to raise public understanding about the professional nature of the role, potentially enhancing trust and confidence in policing.
Ligenza et al. (Thu,) studied this question.