The Personal and Social Competencies of Kuwaiti Police Officers and Its Relationship to Public Trust in the Police Institution

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the personal and social competencies of police officers in the State of Kuwait and to examine their impact on the level of public trust from the perspective of community members. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach through the administration of an electronic questionnaire specifically designed for this purpose. The questionnaire was distributed to a field sample of 850 respondents representing diverse demographic groups. The instrument consisted of 32 items distributed across six main dimensions reflecting personal and social competencies and public trust. Responses were measured using a five-point Likert scale. The results revealed clear variation in public evaluations of certain competencies. Relatively positive perceptions emerged regarding general trust and feelings of safety, whereas lower evaluations were reported for skills related to accepting criticism, emotional stability, and certain aspects of communication and persuasion. The findings also indicated statistically significant differences based on gender and nationality. The study recommends the development of specialized training programs aimed at enhancing police officers’ personal and social competencies, thereby contributing to higher levels of public trust.