Policing at the margins: Fostering trust and cooperation among ethnic minority groups

Abstract

Over the past few decades, Australia has become less dominated by White-European cultural groups and is increasingly characterized by racial and cultural diversity. This diversity brings many benefits, but it also poses challenges for governance. Authorities such as the police are faced with greater diversity in cultural norms, values, identities, and attitudes toward police and the law. This increase in diversity may therefore have implications for the ability of police to foster trust, obtain compliance, and encourage cooperation among certain groups. Procedural justice has been regarded as central to improving public trust and confidence in authorities. This paper will use survey data to examine the role that procedural justice policing can play in promoting trust and cooperation among ethnic minority groups living in Australia.