`We trust you’: 69 % of Indians tell police

The level of trust Indians place in the police force has increased to an all-time high of 69.9% in 2020.

A survey conducted by Team CVoter, an international research organization based in India, has revealed that 69.9% of respondents have a 'lot of trust' in the police, while 20.6% said they have some trust in them

The survey was conducted during the Coronavirus lockdown between 23–30 April. As per the survey, the image of the police has improved among the masses given the fact that mere 29.9% of people had 'a lot of trust’ in 2018.

“In fact, from 2010 to 2020, the trust in the police has increased by 60.3% and the rank of police forces (out of the 18 institutions surveyed about) has increased from 18 in 2010 to 4 in 2020,” the survey said.

It has to be noted that this all-time high trust comes at a time when there is nation-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-10.

The lockdown has prompted over 1.2 billion Indians to stay home. The state and central governments also announced stringent action against violators including hefty fines and prison terms.

Who trusts police the most?

“In 2018, there was a significant difference in the trust that males and females placed in the police, with only 29.2% of men trusting the cops as compared to 41.5% of women,” said the report.

However, this difference has narrowed down significantly with 67.7% of females trusting police compared to 71.9% males in 2020.

Educated, higher-income earning respondents have high trust

Among the naysayers 4.7% of respondents with higher education stated that they don’t have any trust in the police.

Similarly, the level of trust in the police rises as income rises with 67.5% of those with low income, 69.9% with medium income and 77.8% with high income stating they have a lot of trust in the police.

Out of all social groups, 76% of Upper Caste Hindus and 71% of Muslims placed the highest level of trust in police in 2020. “Even in 2018, in terms of social groups, Muslims had the highest percentage of trust in the police with 43.6%. Similarly, in 2020, 90% of respondents reposing some or complete trust in the police,” said the report

“While the trust in the police have been recorded at an all-time high, it is important to find out whether this is just a public reaction to the nation-wide lockdown and its enforcement or sustained improvement in the relationship between the citizens and the police,” said the survey report.