Bridging the Trust Gap: A Review of Public Perception Studies on Police Integrity

Abstract

Public perception of police integrity has emerged as a critical concern for governments and law enforcement agencies, particularly in the context of increasing public scrutiny, high-profile incidents of misconduct, and declining trust in policing institutions worldwide. Integrity, encompassing fairness, transparency, and accountability, forms the foundation of police legitimacy. Yet, perceptions of integrity remain uneven across societies, shaped by cultural, institutional, and experiential factors. This study addresses the need for a systematic understanding of how police integrity is perceived, the factors influencing these perceptions, and the consequences for public trust and legitimacy. The aim of this study is to analyse the research landscape on public perceptions of police integrity through a data-driven review using Scopus AI analytics. The methodology involved systematic mapping of published literature, drawing on outputs such as summary and expanded synthesis, concept maps, topic expert identification, and the detection of emerging themes. This approach enabled a comprehensive overview of scholarly patterns, comparative perspectives, and thematic developments in the field. Findings reveal that perceptions of police integrity are consistently influenced by procedural justice, officer characteristics, accountability mechanisms, and media representations. Comparative studies highlight cross-national variations, with integrity understood and evaluated differently across cultural and political contexts. Consequential studies show that negative perceptions significantly undermine trust, legitimacy, and willingness to cooperate with law enforcement, while accountability and procedural fairness enhance confidence. Emerging themes indicate growing scholarly attention to media narratives, technological accountability tools such as body-worn cameras, and the role of transparency in digital societies. The implications of this review are both theoretical and practical. Theoretically, it reinforces the centrality of procedural justice frameworks while emphasizing the need for cross-cultural refinement. Practically, it underscores the importance of investing in accountability reforms, cultural competence training, and media engagement strategies to bridge the trust gap. Collectively, the study contributes to an integrated understanding of public perceptions of police integrity and provides a roadmap for strengthening legitimacy in law enforcement.