Evaluation of police activity as an indicator of public safety: the experience of empirical research in Ukraine

The ability of a society for sustainable development is determined by its ability to maintain and develop the parameters of life within the security corridor not least under the condition of continuous action of both internal and external factors. The connection between the activities of law enforcement agencies and the sustainability development of socio-territorial communities is obvious since the leading mission of the police is to prevent the constantly growing threats associated with various kinds of offenses. It is well known that the development of public opinion is an integral part of the rule of law and civil society. In the context of active reformation of law enforcement agencies, empirical sociological studies play the role of a measurer of efficiency, a barometer of public trust. The leading task of sociologists is to establish a two-way communication with the population whose security should be ensured by law enforcement officials. The article summarizes the experience of existing empirical sociological research of public opinion on the evaluation of the formation of a new methodology and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of the police. The authors of the article note that to date, considerable research experience has been accumulated, a base of empirical research has been formed to study the effectiveness of the national police, but there is still some methodological and methodological inconsistency. Researchers point to the appropriateness of using the in-depth interview method of the police officers themselves, conducting a focus group and expert evaluation.