Abstract

Trust of the police force in key institutions represents a key precondition for coherent functioning of the state and effective law enforcement. This article presents the results of the research mapping the level of institutional trust among Czech members of the police force focusing on their attitudes towards political, judicial, and economic actors. The data, collected through a questionnaire survey among the members of the police force, are interpreted in context and compared with data from international public opinion surveys – the Eurobarometer and the Edelman Trust Barometer. The analysis identifies substantial variations in trust across institutions and media. A consistent pattern emerged, showing that older and longer-serving officers tend to express lower trust in the political regime and the media, yet report higher satisfaction with their income. Gender differences were also observed: female officers are generally less trusting towards business leaders and journalists and display slightly greater support for protest activities. The article offers valuable insights for the theory of social trust and for decision makers in the sphere of public administration and security.