Associations Between Police Encounters and Certain Aspects of Citizen's Police Perception

The aim of this study was to investigate the police perception in pupils and their parents from the Zagreb City area, and the impact of personal and vicarious negative encounters with the police on those perceptions. Data was collected for 959 (51% female) 6th grade pupils from 15 primary schools in the Zagreb City area, and 397 (77% mothers) parents. Average age for the pupils was 11.87 years (SD = 0.54), and for the parents 43.08 (SD = 5.42). Pupils were asked to rate their overall satisfaction with the police and how likely it is that they would approach a policeman to ask for help. Most pupils were satisfied with the police (73%) and would most defmitely approach a policeman (67%). Parents were asked if they generally trust the police, if they are satisfied with the police, would they approach a policeman and ask for help, and if they believe that regular contact with policemen is needed for a good relationship between the police and the community. Ova . 70% of the sample agreed or totally agreed with all the above statements. In both samples, majority (88% for pupils and 81% for parents) did not have negative encounters with the police. However, results indicated that for those that did have negative encounters, those negative encounters were negatively associated with police perception. Pupils with negative encounters were more likely to be loess satisfied and indicated that it is less likely they would approach a policeman. Parents with negative encounters were more likely to be less satisfied and have less trust in the police.