Article Trust noMatter What? Citizens ’ Perception of the Police 1 Year after the Terror Attacks

Abstract Trust in the police appears to evolve slowly over time in response to deeper structural changes rather than single events. However, what happens when a terrorist attack occurs and exposes serious flaws in police preparedness and their response during and after the attack? This study investigates the extent to which trust in the police has been affected by the events on 22 July 2011 and the aftermath, utilizing survey data collected both prior to and after the terror attacks. The study finds that trust in the police rose significantly in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, but then returned to pre-terror levels within a year. Moreover, trust in the police has not fallen below pre-terror levels despite strong criticism in the heavily publicized July 22nd commission report. This suggests a deep-seated belief in the willingness and ability of the authorities to address and correct dysfunction in the police organization