In the United States, where the future of policing is being questioned in the wake of a number of police shootings of civilians, 79% of Americans indicated they have confidence in their local police in 2019. When asked again in the months leading up to George Floyd’s death in 2020, 82% of Americans said they were confident. However, after Mr Floyd’s death, it is likely that there has been a significant decline in Americans’ confidence in the police.47 Following widespread protests over his killing, a majority of Americans (58%) believe that major reforms are required to improve policing. By demographic group, there are significant differences. Major improvements are needed by nearly nine out of 10 Black Americans (88%) compared to 63% of Hispanic Americans and 51% of White Americans. Younger Americans are more likely to believe that significant changes are required. This response is given by eight out of 10 adults under the age of 35, compared to six out of 10 adults aged 35 to 49 and less than half of those aged 50 and beyond.48 It is evident that whilst there is some disparity between groups, the legitimacy of the police has been challenged and contested by events around the world, and this has consequently affected the relationship they have with the public to a significant degree.
Timeline of recent events and their impact on police legitimacy It is clear there have been a number of recent challenges to the public’s perception of the police and that this has brought the degree of legitimacy they are granted into question. For many years there have been instances of scandals concerning the treatment of minorities, the policing of riots, and other public order matters. These, and related issues, have a lengthy heritage, with concerns about the loss of trust in, and respect for, the police being raised as far back as the 1929 Commission on the Police,49 as well as by its successor, the 1962 Royal Commission on the Police. Whilst matters relating to police and race have never been fully resolved, these matters have received renewed attention in light of recent events. In 2013, the rise of the BLM 16
