Attitudes of representatives of different socio-demographic population groups towards the police (based on the materials of the survey conducted in the Nizhny Novgorod region)

Introduction. Most studies on the work of the police in the Nizhny Novgorod Region are custom-made, so it is important to identify the really existing problems of the relationship between the population and the police. The purpose of the article is to identify the real characteristics and peculiarities of interaction between citizens and the police in the territory of Nizhny Novgorod and the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Materials and Methods. The research was based on the materials of sociological research conducted in 2016-2017. The general scientific methods (analysis, systemic and structural approach to the analysis of the research object) and specific scientific ones (survey of residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region) were used, as well as aspects of research results related to the socio-demographic and settlement characteristics of the attitude of the population towards the police. Results. The performed analysis allowed to identify the factors that have the most impact on the attitudes of the population of the region towards law enforcement agencies, on the willingness of citizens to interact with the police, to report to the law enforcement on the crimes which residents of the Nizhny Novgorod Region witnessed or were victims of. The socio-demographic characteristics of respondents loyal and disloyal to the police were analyzed. The study revealed the correlation between sex, age, education, the place of residence of the respondents and their attitudes towards the police. It was found necessary to develop practical recommendations and proposals for adjusting the work of the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in order to increase the level of public confidence in them. Discussion and Conclusions. The results obtained are of practical significance as practical recommendations were developed and proposals were formulated for adjusting the work of the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the aim of increasing the level of public confidence in them and forming a positive image of law enforcement officers. The article will be useful to police officers, sociologists, criminologists, employees of city and district administrations, researchers and public figures dealing with similar issues.