YOUTH PERCEPTION OF THE POLICE: A STUDY OF MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v12i1.2148Parole chiave:
youths, perceptions, police, MerseysideAbstract
This study examines young people's perceptions of the police in Merseyside, United Kingdom, a topic that has received limited empirical attention. Based on interpretivist philosophy, the research used a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 20 young people aged 16–25 from Liverpool and Wirral. The study looked into how socioeconomic status, parental influence, police contact, community environment, and ethnicity influence attitudes towards law enforcement. Thematic analysis identified six main themes: socio-economic status, parental influence, ethnicity, perceptions of justice, nature of police contact, and gang involvement. Results show that young people from less advantaged communities experience more involuntary police contact, often viewing officers as biased or overly strict, while those from wealthier backgrounds report more voluntary and positive interactions. Parental influence and community culture were found to reinforce intergenerational attitudes towards policing. Notably, ethnicity was not identified as a major factor affecting police perception, indicating context-specific dynamics in Merseyside. This research offers an original contribution to understanding youth and police relations in a UK regional setting, emphasising the need to address socio-economic inequalities, promote procedural fairness, and encourage positive, community-focused policing strategies. Policy, practice, and future research implications are discussed, with suggestions for broadening both the geographic and methodological scope of future studies.
Riferimenti bibliografici
Bandura, A. (1977) Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-05015-000
Bessant, J. (1995a) Youth, Crime and Justice. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/42792899_Youth_Crime_and_Justice
Braithwaite, J. and Chappell, D. (1994) Youth, Crime and Justice. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Bradford, B. (2017) 'Policing and legitimacy: An overview', Annual Review of Criminology, 1, pp. 1–21. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1684507
Bowling, B., Phillips, C., and Webster, C. (2015) 'Policing, ethnicity and race', Policing and Society, 25(2), pp. 109–130.
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006) 'Using thematic analysis in psychology', Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp. 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2013) Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners. London: Sage. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256089360_Successful_Qualitative_Research_A_Practical_Guide_for_Beginners
Brown, B. and Benedict, W.R. (2002) 'Perceptions of the police: Past findings, methodological issues, conceptual issues, and policy implications', Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 25(3), pp. 543–580. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1108/13639510210437032
Bryman, A. (2016) Social Research Methods. 5th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/socialresearchme0000brym_w6b0
Clark, A., Jackson, J., and Newman, G. (2021) 'Recruiting hard-to-reach participants: Methods and ethical considerations', Qualitative Research Journal, 21(1), pp. 34–48.
Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (2018) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. 5th edn. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Retrieved from https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/the-sage-handbook-of-qualitative-research/book242504
Eller, L., Skogan, W., and Wentz, R. (2007) 'Neighbourhood disorder and police legitimacy', Criminology & Public Policy, 6(2), pp. 345–374.
Fine, A. (2022) 'Youth perceptions of police legitimacy: A critical review', Journal of Youth Studies, 25(6), pp. 823–841.
Frost, R. and Phillips, C. (2011) Policing, Race and the Legacy of the Toxteth Riots. London: Routledge.
Guest, G., Bunce, A., and Johnson, L. (2006) 'How many interviews are enough?', Field Methods, 18(1), pp. 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279903
Hanway, J. and Hambly, A. (2023) 'Policing by consent in contemporary Britain', Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 17(1), pp. 5–22.
Hinds, L. (2009) 'Police legitimacy and procedural justice in youth interactions', Policing and Society, 19(2), pp. 123–145.
Home Office (2012) Policing by Consent: Guidance for Officers and Communities. London: Home Office.
Jefferson, T. (1976) Policing and Youth Conflict in Liverpool. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.
Keith, M. (1993) Race, Riots and Policing: Liverpool, 1981–1991. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Retrieved from https://www.routledge.com/Race-Riots-and-Policing-Lore-and-Disorder-in-a-Multi-racist-Society/Keith/p/book/9781032422053
Kvale, S. and Brinkmann, S. (2015) InterViews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. 3rd edn. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Kusow, A., Leiber, M., and Fox, J. (1997) 'Involuntary police contact and youth attitudes', Criminology, 35(4), pp. 601–620.
Lanza-Kaduce, L. and Greenleaf, R. (2000) 'Youth gangs and resistance to authority', Youth & Society, 31(3), pp. 287–314.
Leiber, M., Fox, J., and DeKeseredy, W. (1998) 'Youth, policing and perceptions of fairness', Criminal Justice Review, 23(2), pp. 65–83.
Loader, I. (2006) Policing and the Social. London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716206286723
Mathura, M. (2019) Public Perception of Police Officers. PhD thesis, De Montfort University. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/92093082/Public_Perception_of_Police_Officers
McAra, L. and McVie, S. (2010) 'Youth crime and social context', Criminology & Criminal Justice, 10(2), pp. 179–200.
McVie, S. and McAra, L. (2005) 'The impact of social networks on youth offending', Youth & Society, 36(2), pp. 135–160.
Merseyside Youth Commission (2024) Youth Perspectives on Policing in Merseyside: A Youth-Led Report. Liverpool: Merseyside Youth Commission.
Merton, R. (1938) 'Social structure and anomie', American Sociological Review, 3(5), pp. 672–682. https://doi.org/10.2307/2084686
Office for National Statistics (2019) Ethnicity and National Identity in England and Wales: 2011. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/articles/ethnicityandnationalidentityinenglandandwales/2012-12-11 (Accessed: 15 October 2025).
Parker, R. (1974) Working-Class Youth and the Police in Liverpool. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.
Piquero, A., Paternoster, R., and Brame, R. (2005) 'Developmental trajectories of offending', Criminology, 43(4), pp. 623–656.
Power, A. (1997) Cities for a Small Country: Urbanisation in the UK. London: Arnold.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., and Thornhill, A. (2019) Research Methods for Business Students. 8th edn. Harlow: Pearson. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240218229_Research_Methods_for_Business_Students
Scarman, L. (1981) The Scarman Report: Riots in Brixton and Liverpool. London: HMSO.
Scraton, P. (1987) Policing and the Working Class in Liverpool. London: Routledge.
Sindall, K., Sturgis, P., and Preston, J. (2016) 'Police legitimacy, procedural justice, and citizen cooperation in Britain', European Journal of Criminology, 13(1), pp. 1–19.
Smith, J. and Johnson, K. (2020) Youth, Society and Socialisation. London: Sage.
Smith, J. and Jones, L. (2019) 'Trust in the police: A comparative analysis', Policing: An International Journal, 42(2), pp. 115–132.
Turk, A. (1969) Criminality and Social Control. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
University College London (2020) 'Library guides and databases: Harvard: Welcome'. Available at: https://library-guides.ucl.ac.uk/harvard (Accessed: 15 October 2025).
University of Sheffield (2020) 'Harvard referencing - Research skills and critical thinking'. Available at: https://librarydevelopment.group.shef.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.html (Accessed: 15 October 2025).
Vickers, S. (2008) 'An oral history examination of how technology has impacted on library space using the University of Sheffield Library as a case study'. MA Dissertation. University of Sheffield.
Wainwright, J., Frost, R., and Hanway, J. (2020) 'Youth policing in Merseyside: Contemporary perspectives', British Journal of Criminology, 60(5), pp. 1234–1256.
Waddington, P., Williams, K., and Wright, M. (2004) 'Police and public perceptions of crime', Criminal Justice, 4(2), pp. 201–220.
Wentz, R. and Schlimgen, J. (2011) 'Socio-spatial perceptions of policing', Journal of Crime and Justice, 34(3), pp. 195–213. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/0735648X.2011.631412?urlappend=%3Futm_source%3Dresearchgate.net%26utm_medium%3Darticle
