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Abstract

This dissertation explores the differences and similarities between public perceptions of the police and private investigators (PIs) in the UK. The police and PIs serve society in similar ways, and the perceptions of the public are important to the effectiveness of both their practices. The UK police have been written about extensively in academic literature, while PIs have had limited attention. This dissertation aims to fill the gap in the academic literature and compare the perceptions of the police and PIs. An online survey was disseminated to UK residents with questions pertaining to trust, confidence, values and prejudices through interaction, geography, age and media factors. While most participants had interacted with the police, none had interacted with PIs. Participants perceived the police as protectors of the public and social order on a national scale, while PIs were seen as providing personal services or filling gaps where the police were insufficient or untrusted. Participants expressed higher levels of trust in the police than PIs, due to the majority of participants’ interactions with the police and the lack of regulation and public knowledge about PIs. Media influence was found to be an influential factor in participant’s perceptions of the police more than PIs. News websites often focussed on the police, while PIs had a lack of publicity, suggesting the need for better public awareness as the demand for external policing organisations and privatisation outsourcing increases.

Course: Criminology and Forensic Studies - BSc (Hons) - C2039F

Date Deposited: 2024-11-20

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14529.html