Researcher Ben Scott, together with Dr. Naomi Pfitzner and Professor Kate Fitz-Gibbon, of Monash University in Australia, have published a thought-provoking study on how police legitimacy is understood in relation to historically marginalised groups. The article, entitled Spatial, Temporal, and Visible:Queer People’s Perceptions of Police Legitimacy, proposes a «queering» of traditional theories of police legitimacy: a critical questioning of their basis and applicability beyond cisheteronormative contexts.
The study starts from a clear finding: queer people – gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and other non-normative identities – have often been relegated to the periphery of criminology, mentioned anecdotally with the usual note of «lack of data». To counter this invisibilisation, the team surveyed nearly 150 queer people in the state of Victoria, Australia, to analyse their perceptions of police legitimacy.
The results, which combine quantitative data and qualitative responses, reveal a number of tensions: most participants recognise the formal authority of the police and express an obligation to obey the laws, but this obedience does not come from a normative or value alignment, but from a sense of social obligation, fear or inertia.
One of the most relevant contributions of the study is the insistence on the contextual nature of police legitimacy. It depends not only on time and space, but also on historical baggage and identity visibility. Those who were most familiar with the history of conflict between the Victoria Police and the queer community – such as raids on nightclubs or media whistleblowing practices – showed a much more deep-seated distrust of the police institution.
Another significant finding refers to the role of queer visibility. Participants’ experiences differ depending on how they are perceived by agents: people who «pass» as cisheterosexual often report fewer negative interactions, while those with more visible gender expressions or sexual orientations report discriminatory or hostile experiences.
Relations between police forces and LGBTIQ+ groups have historically been complex, both in Catalonia and in many other places around the world. These relationships often carry with them a past marked by discrimination, institutional violence and a lack of mutual trust.
Although this study was carried out in Australia, its conclusions are highly relevant to Catalonia. Despite regulatory advances – such as Law 11/2014 to guarantee the rights of LGBTI people and to eradicate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia – there is still a long way to go to ensure a relationship of trust between law enforcement and sexual and gender diversity.
In recent years, efforts have been made to improve this relationship, such as the creation of specialised hate crime units or specific training in diversity within the Mossos d’Esquadra. But these measures must be critically evaluated on an ongoing basis, especially on the basis of the experiences of the people affected.
The Australian study suggests the need to develop alternative avenues of reporting and support beyond the traditional police system, especially for groups that do not trust it. This reflection can inspire initiatives in our country that reinforce community services, specialised care offices or psychological and legal support tools adapted to LGBTIQ+ realities.
Rethinking police legitimacy from a queer perspective is not only a theoretical exercise: it is a tool to build a more inclusive, equal and just security. To this end, it is necessary to listen to the voices that have often been silenced, acknowledge the wounds of the past and commit to a profound transformation of institutions. Only in this way can we move towards a society in which everyone, regardless of gender identity or expression, can feel safe and trusted in the eyes of law enforcement.
Link: Spatial, Temporal, and Visible: Queer People’s Perceptions of Police Legitimacy
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