Policing a pandemic: An exploration of police use of powers during COVID-19, dis-proportionality and the impact on public perceptions of police legitimacy.

Grant number: COV19\200918

Grant search

Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19
  • Known Financial Commitments (USD)

    $12,763.85
  • Funder

    British Academy
  • Principal Investigator

    Dr. Laura Boulton
  • Research Location

    United Kingdom
  • Lead Research Institution

    Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing: School of Justice Studies
  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A
  • Research Category

    Secondary impacts of disease, response & control measures

  • Research Subcategory

    Social impacts

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Non-Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    N/A

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Adults (18 and older)

  • Vulnerable Population

    Unspecified

  • Occupations of Interest

    Other

Abstract

Traditional UK policing relies on Peelian principles of policing by consent in which public views of police legitimacy are based on transparency about their powers, integrity in exercising powers and accountability for doing so. This research seeks to explore the impact of the Coronavirus Act 2020 on public perceptions towards the police and examine their use of powers. This project seeks to explore these issues within the force area of Merseyside specifically, but hopes to serve as a catalyst for further examination of these trends nationwide and internationally. A mixed methods approach will be taken via three studies: (i) an online survey exploring public perceptions of The Coronavirus Act 2020 police use of powers, (ii) an online survey examining frontline police officer experiences of the implementation of these powers, and (iii) an analysis of the COVID related arrests/use of COVID related powers in Merseyside.