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| Police are twice as trusted as government, poll finds | Police are twice as trusted as government, poll finds |
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| The public is twice as likely to trust police as it is to trust the government, according to an ICM/Guardian poll taken as the row over allegations that the chief whip Andrew Mitchell had called an armed officer a "pleb" escalated. | The public is twice as likely to trust police as it is to trust the government, according to an ICM/Guardian poll taken as the row over allegations that the chief whip Andrew Mitchell had called an armed officer a "pleb" escalated. |
| In a poll conducted over the weekend, while the story of Mitchell's altercation at the gates of Downing Street dominated the press and the airwaves, 79% of respondents said they trusted the police very or fairly strongly, more than double the 37% who said the same about the UK government. | In a poll conducted over the weekend, while the story of Mitchell's altercation at the gates of Downing Street dominated the press and the airwaves, 79% of respondents said they trusted the police very or fairly strongly, more than double the 37% who said the same about the UK government. |
| The police service will be delighted to obtain such positive ratings only a couple of weeks after an independent inquiry into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster implicated the South Yorkshire force in manoeuvrings to blame the victims and cover up their own failings. | The police service will be delighted to obtain such positive ratings only a couple of weeks after an independent inquiry into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster implicated the South Yorkshire force in manoeuvrings to blame the victims and cover up their own failings. |
| The police are not only much more trusted than the government, but are also trusted somewhat more than the courts and lawyers they work with: 63% of voters say they very or fairly strongly trust the legal system. | The police are not only much more trusted than the government, but are also trusted somewhat more than the courts and lawyers they work with: 63% of voters say they very or fairly strongly trust the legal system. |
| The 79% trust rating for the police also represents an advance on the 55% rating they obtained when ICM fielded a similar question in an online poll in February 2010 (pdf), with a particularly marked increase in the proportion trusting them very strongly. | The 79% trust rating for the police also represents an advance on the 55% rating they obtained when ICM fielded a similar question in an online poll in February 2010 (pdf), with a particularly marked increase in the proportion trusting them very strongly. |
| The poll was commissioned in the wake of the murder of two female officers in Greater Manchester last week, which has produced a wave of sympathy for the service. Trust in the police is spread remarkably evenly across the sexes, age groups and social classes. | The poll was commissioned in the wake of the murder of two female officers in Greater Manchester last week, which has produced a wave of sympathy for the service. Trust in the police is spread remarkably evenly across the sexes, age groups and social classes. |
| On 15 November, across most of England and Wales the public will vote to select new police and crime commissioners – individuals from outside the force who will be charged with setting strategies and budgets. The pending elections have received scant publicity and there are fears of a low turnout, but in so far as voters have a view about this initiative it is positive. | On 15 November, across most of England and Wales the public will vote to select new police and crime commissioners – individuals from outside the force who will be charged with setting strategies and budgets. The pending elections have received scant publicity and there are fears of a low turnout, but in so far as voters have a view about this initiative it is positive. |
| In the ICM poll some 48% believe that the plans will improve the quality of policing, as against only 28% who fear that it will worsen the quality. With 24% of voters saying they don't know, the government will be pleased to learn that its proposals – which are controversial with many in the force – are endorsed by a 20-point margin. | In the ICM poll some 48% believe that the plans will improve the quality of policing, as against only 28% who fear that it will worsen the quality. With 24% of voters saying they don't know, the government will be pleased to learn that its proposals – which are controversial with many in the force – are endorsed by a 20-point margin. |
| Polling earlier in the month by YouGov also indicated that the elections for the new commissioners could be propitious for the Tories. It suggested that the Conservatives held a seven point edge over Labour on law and order – revealing them to be preferred by a 30%-23% as the party "best able to handle" the problems in this area. The byelection in Corby – which was caused by the resignation from parliament of Louise Mensch, and looks tricky for the Tories – is likely to be held the same day. If so, the Conservatives would be especially grateful for a string of strong Conservative showings in the ballots for police and crime commissioners. | Polling earlier in the month by YouGov also indicated that the elections for the new commissioners could be propitious for the Tories. It suggested that the Conservatives held a seven point edge over Labour on law and order – revealing them to be preferred by a 30%-23% as the party "best able to handle" the problems in this area. The byelection in Corby – which was caused by the resignation from parliament of Louise Mensch, and looks tricky for the Tories – is likely to be held the same day. If so, the Conservatives would be especially grateful for a string of strong Conservative showings in the ballots for police and crime commissioners. |
| • ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,006 adults aged 18+ by telephone on 21 23 September 2012. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. | • ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,006 adults aged 18+ by telephone on 21 23 September 2012. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. |
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