Police Perceptions of Maori - Rethinking Crime and Punishment

level of sergeant or senior sergeant were included in the sample. This strategy resulted
in a final sample comprising 1066 names.
Distribution of questionnaires
Questionnaires were sent out with an accompanying letter and a reply paid envelope
with a return address. The reply envelopes were numbered to enable researchers to
identify which respondents returned their questionnaires. As replies came in, the
envelopes were separated from the questionnaires so that numbers could not be linked
to replies. This procedure was adopted to ensure the confidentiality of the responses
while enabling researchers to know who should be rung to follow up non-replies.
Responses
Of the original 1066 selected from PHRIS and sent questionnaires, 81 were on leave
without pay, had left the Police or were no longer able to be located at the PHRIS
address. This gave a possible sample of 979 valid replies. A total of 737 valid replies
were received before the final cut off date which was 12 January 1998 3 . This
represents 75% of the 979 potentially available. It is this sample which is reported on
in this report.
This relatively healthy response rate has been achieved despite the fact that police have,
in recent times, been reluctant to take part in surveys conducted by their own
organisation. The use of two follow up phone calls was an important factor. Replies
from some of the participants indicated that the shortness of the questionnaire and its
interest to the respondents proved a positive factor for many of those who responded.
A number of respondents commented that they had found the questionnaire interesting
and thought provoking. Often people were pleased to take part in the survey because
they felt that there were problems that needed to be addressed:
I hope your survey is successful. I am of British descent. I worry about
cultural bias in interpreting what I have written. However, I am so keen to see
progress in this field, I will risk baring my soul. I am deeply concerned about
the rapid increase in antagonistic attitudes among racial groups in [my city].
Things are looking grim.
Being a Maori, I appreciate this opportunity to answer a survey on views of
police toward Maori.
Due to a predominantly white male work force, the police is a breeding ground
for racism, sexism and chauvinistic attitudes. I wish you luck with your study
and hope it will achieve change in police culture.
One person involved in the pilot, who encouraged us to ask challenging questions,
warned us that:
A number of police officers will be threatened by this questionnaire.
3 Another seven were returned too late for inclusion and two more replies were excluded; one
from a person who gave his rank as Inspector, one filled out by an ex-police officer’s wife.
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