Public trust in Gujranwala police surges, survey finds

ISLAMABAD: That people rate the police poorly isn’t news. However, it becomes so when they express trust in them. This has happened in Gujranwala – in what is likely the first-ever survey conducted by the police to understand how they are viewed by the public. The city police there have received unexpectedly positive ratings in areas such as crime control, investigations, traffic management and public service delivery.

Commissioned by City Police Officer Ayyaz Saleem, the survey was conducted by Gallup Pakistan between May 12 and May 20. A total of 801 respondents from Gujranwala city participated through a combination of face-to-face and telephone interviews. Of them, 522 were selected from 30 different city locations for in-person interviews. Another 250 were chosen from a list of 2,500 individuals who had interacted with the police in the last four months; their feedback was collected via phone calls.

On police efforts to curb crime, over 70 percent of respondents said they felt safe walking alone, driving, and shopping on a daily basis. Sixty-six percent believed that the police had adequate resources. Interestingly, 54 percent felt the public was not very cooperative with the police in preventing crime, and 65 percent attributed this to a lack of public awareness about crime in their neighborhoods. Regarding police investigations, feedback was mixed. While 84 percent said the police arrested and investigated those they (the complainants) identified as accused, the response was less favorable on other aspects. Only 33 percent said the investigating officer explained the judicial process to them, and 46 percent reported that their complaints were properly attended to. Just 31 percent said the police kept them updated during the investigation process.

As many as 88 percent were satisfied with police performance in traffic monitoring. Additionally, 71 percent reported improved and consistent assistance to crime victims, 74 percent noted better handling of ordinary citizens, and 73 percent observed increased collaboration between police and residents on local issues.

Most respondents (74 percent) said they did not come across police officers frequently. At their most recent contact, 49 percent reported receiving good treatment, while 23 percent described their experience as neutral. Forty-two percent said a family member or relative had contacted the police in the last four months; 30 percent said their friends had done so.

A majority (64 percent) of respondents believed that corruption within the police had decreased, while 36 percent felt it remained business as usual. In terms of police response, 50 percent said officers arrived within 10-15 minutes of being called, and 76 percent reported receiving service within 30 minutes.

A vast majority (95 percent) rated the behaviour of female officers as extremely professional, while 87 percent felt the women enclave provided a safe and trustworthy space.

Furthermore, 91 percent expressed satisfaction with police performance in protecting women, and 82 percent approved of the CPO’s initiatives to prevent theft, robbery, and dacoity.