Public attitudes toward police pursuit driving

Although studies have reported the risks and benefits of police pursuit driving as well as the attitudes of law enforcement personnel, little is known about the public's perception of pursuit. The current study helps fill this void by examining citizens' attitudes toward police pursuit. The findings from three sites indicate that citizens support the police in their attempt to apprehend suspects of serious crimes, but the support diminishes when the nature of the offense is nor as serious. In addition, the findings suggest that public support decreases when information about the dangers of pursuit are presented. Overall, the study indicates that an informed public is less likely to accept the necessity of police use of pursuit, especially for less serious crimes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.