Why do we trust the police? Testing performance theory, normative alignment and political ideology

Purpose This study examines trust in police in the South Korean context. We test whether effective policing, alignment of police-community norms or political ideologies impact our trust in police. Design/methodology/approach The study utilizes convenience sampling of South Korean college students from all seven metropolitan cities in South Korea. The cross-sectional survey included a total sample of 2,188 college students. Findings The results indicate that citizens' perception of police trust was significantly predicted by one's sense of normative alignment with the police and their perception of police effectiveness in controlling crime. Contrastingly, political ideology had no significant impact on predicting trust in police. Originality/value Police legitimacy transcends procedural justice. Specifically, increasing political polarization suggests that factors beyond procedural justice may alter perceptions of police legitimacy. Thus, the current study expands the policing literature by examining whether citizens view the police as trustworthy when they are effective at their jobs, share similar norms and values or are perceived as being trustworthy based on our political views.