Abstract

With the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in dramatic shifts in the way societies and communities operate, individuals’ experiences and perceptions of crime and the police also have the potential to be affected. Using data from the ANU COVID-19 Impact Monitoring Program, this paper outlines how experiences of crime, perceptions of safety, and perceptions of police have changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We find a reduction in self-reports of being a victim of burglary and assault between February and November 2020, aligning with previous research using administrative data. This reduction sat alongside improved feelings of safety in the neighbourhood, with small positive improvements between February and November 2020 and then again between November 2020 and October 2021. In examining levels of confidence regarding police throughout this period, we find that individuals viewed the police more favourably from May 2020 to August 2021 compared to January 2020 when the pandemic had not yet reached Australia. In particular, those born overseas, Indigenous Australians, and those with year 12 qualifications were significantly more likely to have reported improved levels of confidence. However, this level of confidence appears to be reverting to pre-pandemic levels, with the October 2021 data illustrating no significant difference from January 2020. Policymakers and law enforcement agencies can draw upon these findings to examine what aspects of policing may have resulted in improved perceptions of police amongst the community, and these groups in particular, to help ensure a higher level of confidence as the pandemic in Australia transitions to a new phase. 

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