Determinants of citizen trust in police in the Caribbean countries: focusing on instrumental and expressive models

Purpose While public trust in the police has been widely examined in the policing literature, relatively little attention has been paid to Caribbean countries. To address prevalent violence and national security issues, many Caribbean nations have implemented organizational and practical reforms in their policing strategies. Consequently, it is essential to explore both the levels of public trust in the police and the factors that influence this trust within the region. Design/methodology/approach Using data from four Caribbean countries, this study examines the effects of various instrumental and expressive variables on public trust in the police using an ordinal regression analysis approach. Findings The findings indicate that most expressive variables are significantly associated with public trust in the police. In particular, police corruption, satisfaction with democracy and social cohesion emerge as key predictors. The conclusions and discussions offer several contributions to the policing literature, particularly within the context of the Caribbean region. Originality/value This study examines public trust in the police among residents of four Caribbean countries using two major models of confidence in the police. These countries have been understudied, and the political and practical implications of this study will help inform policing strategies in the region.