Mirroring The Citizen: Implementing Ethnic Minority Police Officers in a Multicultural Urban Neighbourhood as a Trust-Building Instrument: The case of Rotterdam, The Netherlands

This thesis investigates the experiences of police officers in multicultural neighbourhoods following the implementation of ethnic minority officers into the police force. It addresses how these officers perceive trust-relationships between the police and residents, especially those with non-Western migrant backgrounds. Using semi-structured interviews with five police officers in Rotterdam, the study contextualizes their experiences within key concepts such as trust, legitimacy, multiculturalism, and community policing. The analysis reveals a significant correlation between effective communication and trust-building in multicultural settings. The positive impacts of implementing ethnic minority officers outweigh the negative experiences, with various initiatives enhancing interactions with residents. The findings suggest that further investment in diversity and communication training could improve trust and cooperation between police and multicultural communities. Future research...Show moreThis thesis investigates the experiences of police officers in multicultural neighbourhoods following the implementation of ethnic minority officers into the police force. It addresses how these officers perceive trust-relationships between the police and residents, especially those with non-Western migrant backgrounds. Using semi-structured interviews with five police officers in Rotterdam, the study contextualizes their experiences within key concepts such as trust, legitimacy, multiculturalism, and community policing. The analysis reveals a significant correlation between effective communication and trust-building in multicultural settings. The positive impacts of implementing ethnic minority officers outweigh the negative experiences, with various initiatives enhancing interactions with residents. The findings suggest that further investment in diversity and communication training could improve trust and cooperation between police and multicultural communities. Future research should explore the long-term effects of diversity initiatives through qualitative research, and extend to other urban contexts.Show less

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Mirroring The Citizen: Implementing Ethnic Minority Police Officers in a Multicultural Urban Neighbourhood as a Trust-Building Instrument: The case of Rotterdam, The Netherlands