Understanding the decline: a procedural justice approach to the key factors behind the downward shift in opinions of police

Recently, there has been a marked decrease in public satisfaction with police. Reduced trust and confidence in police can lead to strained police-citizen relationships and increased conflicts. This study aimed to understand this decline in an Australian context. First the media’s influence of public opinions was examined by analysing a total of 855 newspaper headlines from two distinct periods: the first marked by a year of high public satisfaction in police and the second with a low public satisfaction rating. Secondly, to examine the public’s opinion specifically, a content analysis was conducted using a procedural justice framework to analyse 198 public comments posted to news articles. While the headlines showed consistent media sentiment between the two time-periods, there was a marked increase in police-related articles in the low- satisfaction period. Additionally, the public commentary analysis revealed a shift from positive to more neutral and negative sentiments with trust, neutrality, and respect as focal points. This research highlights that while media portrayal remained consistent, the amplified coverage and shifting public opinions emphasise the need for police to enhance trust-building efforts and prioritise procedural justice. Understanding and addressing these perceptions are crucial for fostering harmonious police-citizen interactions.