Confidence in local police can be tested by poor response times, heavy-handed arrests and the use of force in questionable circumstances. Despite that, most people around the world have faith in law enforcement according to a recent Gallup poll. It found that 69 percent of people around the world have confidence in their local police while 68 percent feel safe walking alone at night. Regionally, people in Latin America and the Caribbean are most likely to feel they say unsecure in their communities.
Gallup used index scores between 0 and 100 to rank countries by their confidence levels in local police, feelings of personal safety and incidence of theft or assault/mugging over the past year. Singapore had the highest score for law and order at 97 and its position remains unchanged since the poll was last released two years ago. Venezuela is rock-bottom with a score of 44 and its position also remains unchanged compared to 2016. Its poor score reflects the extent of its economic crisis. Crime has increased steadily there and only 17 percent of Venezuelans feel safe walking along at night.
The U.S. has had to content with a stream of controversial police shootings in recent years and it comes 31st with a score of 84. Even thought Americans have a high level of faith in law and order, they do feel less secure than people in many other nations when it comes to taking an evening stroll alone. 94 percent of people in Singapore feel safe when they are alone at night but in the U.S., the share is only 72 percent.
Law & Order
Where Confidence In Law And Order Is Highest And Lowest
