This study explores the formation of attitudes towards the police from the experiences of young, ethnic minority males residing in the Danish ‘Vestegnen’ municipalities, situated within contemporary research on legal cynicism in the Nordic countries. Based on data from semi-structured interviews with five respondents, the study respondents demonstrate formations of negative attitudes towards the police from experiences - both direct and vicarious - of harbouring unjustified suspicion, different forms of police misconduct, and feeling purposely humiliated by the police. Conversely, the study respondents demonstrate formations of positive attitudes towards the police from experiences of feeling respected by the police, despite engaging in unlawful activity and having a positive relation to local police officers with a community-oriented approach. Following the notions of legal cynicism, the study suggest that the young men did not portray an absolute erosion of faith towards the police, as they generally approve of the police function in society. In closing, the study concludes by emphasising the importance of procedural just policing towards young, ethnic minority males from marginalised areas, as their compliance with law enforcement relies greatly on their experienced treatment. Following this, the allocation of resources towards local police officers with a community-approach may be a step towards effective crime-control efforts aimed at preventing youthful alienation from the police force.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:mau-67901 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Bruus, Simon |
| Publisher | Malmö universitet, Institutionen för kriminologi (KR) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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