Interfax: Opinion polls mirror improved public attitude to police – Interior Ministry

(Interfax – October 24, 2013) The number of Russians who claim that the police are one of the worst corrupt authorities has declined over the past year, a source from the Russian Interior Ministry told Interfax, referring to a Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) poll.

“Currently, this opinion is expressed by 19 percent of the respondents. The indicator stood at 26 percent in 2012. Also, the number of respondents who allege corruption practices of the traffic police is down by 6 percent, from 33 percent to 27 percent,” the source said.

Fewer respondents said they had to bribe the traffic police over the past year, he said.

“Such statements were made by 14 percent of respondents in 2008 and only 6 percent this year,” the source noted.

“The poll clearly demonstrates positive dynamics in public-police relations and the positive changes that have taken place in the course of the police reform,” the ministry representative said.

In his opinion, personal responsibility of police chiefs for the behavior of their subordinates is a factor.

VTsIOM held the poll in early October 2013, the spokesman said.

The VTsIOM website reported it polled 1,600 people in 130 towns and cities in 42 regions on October 5-6, 2013.