Procedural justice
Although the police are , logically , associated mainly with instrumental compliance ( see previous page ), they can also have a significant role in generating normative compliance . In fact , any contact that an individual has with ‘ authority ’ can play an important role here . Research demonstrates that the way people are treated when they come into contact with the law , and with the police , can influence their future behaviour .
For our purposes , this means that drivers who have ‘ procedurally just ’ ( that is fair and legitimate ) interactions with the police , or hear about the positive experiences of others , are more likely to comply with what the law and the police want them to do ¹. We also know the roads policing is the most likely reason for an individual to experience policing attention in the role of offender ² ( what we might call an ‘ unsolicited ’ encounter , rather than a ‘ solicited ’ one where they are a victim or witness ), so it ’ s important to get these encounters right .
Procedurally just experiences have the following characteristics : Neutrality
Police officers should be seen to act in fair and neutral ways , rather than targeting any particular individual or group .
Consistency Similar circumstances should result in similar experiences for the individuals involved . Respect
Police officers should be seen to treat all individuals with dignity and respect , regardless of the reason for their interaction with that individual .
Politeness Individuals should be treated with politeness in the course of their interactions with the police . Trust
Voice
Police officers should show that they can be trusted and be seen to care for individuals by explaining the reasoning for their involvement with an individual .
Police officers should be seen as allowing individuals to voice their opinions and express their own views on a matter .
A driver is more likely to accept a ‘ telling off ’, or even punishment , and to obey the law in future , if their experience is procedurally just 3 . The alternative is that procedurally unjust encounters make individuals less likely to see the police as fair , as legitimate , and in turn less likely to comply with their requests ( to obey the law ) in future .
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¹ Sunshine , J . and Tyler , T . R . ( 2003 ). The role of procedural justice and legitimacy in shaping public support for policing . Law & society review , 37 ( 3 ), pp . 513-
548 . ² Corbett , C . ( 2003 ). Car Crime . Devon : Willan . ³ Bradford , B ., Hohl , K ., Jackson , J . and MacQueen , S . ( 2015 ). Obeying the rules of the road : Procedural justice , social identity , and normative compliance .
Journal of contemporary criminal justice , 31 ( 2 ), pp . 171-191 .