Issue: № 9, 2025
Doi: https://doi.org/10.37634/efp.2025.9.10
The paper reveals the interrelation between legal and socio-psychological factors in the context of forming a safe environment for the population. It is argued that people’s perception of security depends on the effectiveness of police activity, which is based on the principles of a democratic society. In the process of exercising police functions, the sense of security is shaped under the influence of awareness of guarantees for the observance of human rights and freedoms, humanism, the necessity and proportionality of the use of force, the distribution and effective implementation of law enforcement functions, interaction with the population, as well as the consideration of traditions, and the social and economic development of society. The perception of personal security by the population, in the context of police activity, can be a rather complex phenomenon and may depend on cultural and social aspects. For instance, in some countries, citizens may trust the police and perceive it as the main source of security, whereas in other states, such trust may be lacking due to corruption or other problems. The issues of psychological peculiarities of the population’s perception of their own security are highly relevant. Security is shaped not only on the basis of facts and real threats but also under the influence of psychological, social, and cultural factors. In general, the perception of security depends on the level of trust in institutions (police, army, state). The level of education, life experience, age, and health condition influence the perception of danger. National and cultural characteristics determine the tolerance of society to risk, and vice versa. Ultimately, the perception of a safe environment for the population will largely depend on the effectiveness and transparency of law enforcement agencies, as well as on the atmosphere of trust in the police.
Keywords : safe environment, democracy, police, police activity, human rights, psychology, perception
References:
1. Khatniuk Yu.A. et al. Police activity: administrative and legal regulation / ed. Yu.S. Nazar. Lviv, 2023. 640 p. (in Ukrainian).
2. On the National Police: Law of Ukraine dated 02.07.2015 No. 580-VIII. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/580-19#Text (in Ukrainian).
3. On approval of the Procedure for assessing the level of public trust in the National Police: Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 07.02.2018 No. 58. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/58-2018-п#Text (in Ukrainian).
4. Desiatnyk A.A. The level of public trust in the police: is it an objective criterion for assessing the effectiveness of police activity? Maritime Security and Defense. 2025. No. 1(5). URL: https://dspace.oduvs.edu.ua/server/api/core/bitstreams/1bd788d3-d0cf-4e12-86e0-b910a981cb3a/content (in Ukrainian).
5. NUMBEO. Crime. Available at: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/ (in English).
6. Announced the list of countries of the world by the level of security in 2025. BusinessUA. URL: https://businessua.com/suspilstvo/105082-ozvuchili-spisok-krai776n-svitu-za-rivnem-bezpeki-u-2025-mu.html (in Ukrainian).
7. Yi-Pin Lin. Ignoring Warnings, a Growing Band of Tourists Venture to Afghanistan. URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-tourism.html
8. Recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for citizens planning a trip to Singapore. URL: https://mfa.gov.ua/news/118-rekomendatsii-mzs-gromadyanam-ukraini-yaki-planuyut-poizdku-do-singapur (in Ukrainian).
9. Kalinina L., Maliuha M. The social credit system as a large-scale project for building a harmonious society in the digital age. Ukrainian Pedagogical Journal. 2019. no. 4. pp. 5–17. (in Ukrainian).
10. Amnesty International. URL: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/08/brazil-must-cease-investigate-lethal-police-operations/
11. Recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for citizens planning a trip to Haiti. URL: https://tripadvisor.mfa.gov.ua/?p=416 (in Ukrainian).