Most Afghans respect police, see it as prestigious occupation - independent survey
An independent countrywide survey of 7,278 adult Afghans reveals that 81 percent respect the police.
Kabul, 31stJanuary 2012 – The Ministry of Interior (MOI) today released the third-annual independent Police Perception Survey showing that many key gauges of views of the police have advanced over the past three years and others that have been broadly positive remain so.
The Police Perception Survey 2011: The Afghan Perspective, showed an 8-point increase since last year to 81 percent in the number of Afghans expressing personal respect for the police; a 6-point gain in the number who see it as a prestigious occupation to 75 percent; and a slight 3-point gain in overall confidence in the force to 74 percent.
The acceptance of female officers is also on the rise, with 53 percent of those surveyed thinking it's a good idea to have female officers in their community, up 8 points from last year.
"This independent survey shows the growing public confidence in the police while also identifying areas of improvement to focus on. Much work has gone on but more needs to be done to professionalize the police further, especially in the lead-up to transition, and we will use this report to build on the successes and work on the areas that need improvement," said Interior Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi.
The survey of 7,278 adult Afghans (4,111 men and 3,167 women), was carried out across all 34 provinces for the MOI by the Afghan Centre for Socio-Economic and Opinion Research (ACSOR). The funding was provided by the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) project.
The survey also shows marked regional differences in perception. Ratings have improved significantly in the South West from 48 to 67 percent favourable, where enormous effort has been expended in security and development. There have also been advances in the Central/Hazarjat region, and to a lesser extent in the North. However, some views of the police have gone down elsewhere, notably in Central Kabul, the East and West of the country, where reported crime victimization is up.
Overall the survey highlights that the Afghan Nation Police's image has been bolstered by on-going efforts to extend the presence of the force, to increase its effectiveness and enhance its community outreach. It also points out that corruption remains a significant concern (although down 7 points from 2010), as do other forms of police misconduct, including excessive physical force and perceived bias.
For more information, please contact:
Sediq Sediqqi, Director of Public Relations and Spokesperson, MOI
Tel: +93 (0) 795225002
Sediq.sediqqi@moi.gov.af
About MOI
The Afghan Ministry of Interior (MOI) is responsible for law and order maintenance, countering terrorism, crime and narcotics trafficking as well as border protection. It is the main implementing partner for LOTFA activities. Please visit: www.moi.gov.af
About LOTFA
The Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) is a multilateral trust fund, established in 2002 and administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). With the Afghan Ministry of Interior as its implementing partner, LOTFA coordinates contributions from international partners, in support of the rebuilding and development of the Afghan police force. Current donors include the Governments of Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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