Corruption in the police department across the globe is not a strange thing. However, some countries are an edge over others in their police department. In this article, we will be looking at the Top ten countries with the best police in the world

Internationally recognised bodies are ladened with the responsibility of putting out indices that would help the National government and the UN to understand the state of the countries’ security.

World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI)

What is WISPI? “The World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) seeks to estimate the efficacy of the security apparatus within a country to respond to internal security challenges, both now and in the future.

So for the purpose of the Index, ‘security apparatus’ predominantly refers to the police.

A country that does not have many internal security issues presently or relies upon tacit rather than explicit enforcement, may have a worse rank than a country that has more issues but has also devoted more police resources to keep them contained.

This index was commissioned by the Sharjah Police Department and the International Police Science Association (IPSA) and developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

It considers security issues in 127 countries, across four domains, making use of 16 indicators.

The four domains are:

• Capacity: The capacity domain considers the resources that a nation dedicates to internal security. It borders around four indicators known as Police, Armed Forces, Private Security and Prison Capacity.
• Process: The process domain looks at whether the resources devoted to internal security are used in an efficient way. It centres around corruption, effectiveness, underreporting and bribe payment to police.
• Legitimacy: The legitimacy domain is a test of whether the public sees security providers, mainly the police, in a favourable light. its indicators are faith in the police, due process, public use, private gain and political terror.
• Outcomes: This domain assesses current threats to internal security. It borders around homicide, violent crimes, terrorism and public safety perception.

In many countries, resources dedicated to national security have increased significantly, but severe menaces are still widespread.

While ‘internal security’ is usually imagined in terms of disputes between the state and insurgency groups within a nation’s borders, a more specific representation includes any factor or process that threatens the state.

Simply put, internal security as measured by the WISPI is the ability of police to achieve security within society and the safety of its members.

Having considered all these, the WISPI ranked the countries with the best police in the world as follows.

Top ten countries with the best police in the world

These countries may have the best police force but it doesn’t mean they don’t have their lapses.

As a matter of fact, all the police force across the globe have their own shortcomings.

1. Singapore

Unlike other Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal ETC. the government of Singapore has made intentional effort to curb police corruption in the country.

Generally, corruption in Singapore is not at its peak. In fact, as of 2020, Singapore is ranked as the fourth least corrupt country in the world and the most transparent in Asia.

This zero tolerance for corruption in the country extends to their police force.

Singapore performed best on the WISPI, it is arguably the only country that performed extremely well across every single indicator and domain in the Index.

Singapore has one of the highest police force and armed services rates in the world; somewhat due to a mandatory national service program that requires all male citizens to perform two years of service in the armed forces, police force, or civil defence force upon turning 18.

Although the Singapore police have its shortcoming, Ninety-three per cent of Singaporean respondents who spoke to the Gallup World Poll reported that they trust their local police force.

According to the report by WISPI, Singapore scored 0.897, 0.829, 0.903, 0.963 and 6% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Overall, Singapore scored 0.898 making them the country with the best police in the world.

2. Finland

The second ranking country on WISPI is Finland. Finland had excellent scores on the process, legitimacy, and outcomes domains

Eighty-five per cent of Finnish respondents while speaking to the Gallup World Poll reported that they have confidence in their local police

Moreover, the World Justice Project rated Finland as the second-best country– this is with regards to police and military officials not taking advantage of their public office for private gain.

Also, State violence against citizens is practically non-existent, with Finland having scored the lowest level on the Political Terror Scale since 1988.

Violence and internal insecurity are rare in Finland. In summary, the WISPI scored Finland 0.674, 0.922, 0.919, 0.893 and 0% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Having an overall rating of 0.864 making them the second country on the list of countries with the bet police force in the world.

3. Denmark

The third country on this list is another Nordic country, Denmark. Denmark has a very similar score profile to Finland with an overall score of 0.859.

It was ranked as having the third-lowest level of bribes paid to the police — this is according to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer.

In fact, Denmark has the lowest level of corruption in the world according to the World Bank’s Control of Corruption indicator.

According to the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, Police and the military in Denmark were the least likely to abuse their public positions for private gain.

However, this does not translate into high levels of confidence in the police as only Seventy-seven per cent of Danish respondents reported that they trust their local police force.

Furthermore, according to WISPI, Finland scored 0.648, 0.948, 0.904, 0.885 and 0% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

With an overall score of 0.859. Making them the third country with the best police force in the world.

4. Austria

Austria had the fourth-best overall score on the WISPI. The level of violence by the state against citizens was low.

Moreover, there is a limited amount of imprisonment for nonviolent political activity.

However, bribe payments to police were also relatively high in Austria, compared to other nations that perform well on the Index.

About Four per cent of Austrian respondents report that they paid a bribe to police officers in the previous year.

However, Austrian citizens reported high levels of confidence in law enforcement officials, with 86 per cent being confident about their local police force.

This high level of confidence in police was due to strong security provided in the country; in addition to respect for the due process of law and the rights of the accused.

Crime and other internal security disruptions were limited in Austria. So the WISPI score Austria 0.770, 0.817, 0.899, 0.894 and 0% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

With an overall score of 0.850 — making them the fourth country with the best police force across the world.

5. Germany

Germany is the only country with a population greater than ten million to be ranked in the top ten.

According to the report, it had very low levels of political terror, low corruption in the military and armed forces, and a strong due process score.

Furthermore, confidence in the security forces was also high, with 82 per cent of Germans feeling assured about their local police.

The WISPI report score Germany 0.778, 0.876, 0.867, 0.852 and 0% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Overall, Germany scored 0.848 — making them the fifth country on the list of countries with the best police force.

6. Australia

Statistics show that the risk of encountering corruption within the Australian police service is low.

According to a survey carried out, business executives place high confidence in Australian police services. (GCR 2017-2018).

Only five per cent of Australians see the police as corrupt (GCB 2017).

The government in an effort to curb corruption has effective mechanisms in place to prevent and detect corruption in the police, and there are little or no reports of impunity (HRR 2017).

However, there are some reports tarnishing the image of the Australlian Police.

According to a report by The Guardian in 2016, it was discovered that police in the state of Victoria engaged in drug trafficking and drug use in conjunction with known traffickers; allegations against eight officers have been confirmed.

Considering the four domains used by WISPI, Australia scored 0.825, 0.824, 0.865, 0.847 and 0% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Overall, Australia scored 0.841 — making them the sixth country on the list of countries with the best police force.

7. Netherlands

Corruption is uncommon in the Netherlands in all major areas—judiciary, police, business, and politics.

In fact, the country is acknowledged as one of the least corrupt within the European Union.

There is a low risk of corruption when dealing with their police in day-to-day operations. 

According to WISPI, Netherland police score 0.707, 0.898, 0.858, 0.866 and 0% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Overall, Netherland scored 0.840 — making them the seventh country on the list of countries with the best police force.

8. Norway

Austria had the eight-best overall score on the WISPI. There is a low risk of corruption in the Norwegian police force.

Generally, Norway is less corrupt as a country and this extends to the police force.

As a matter of fact, the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International ranked Norway as the 7th least corrupt country in the world so it is not a surprise that Norway makes this list.

A public survey suggests that corruption is very rare in the country’s police services (GCB 2013). 

The Norwegian government has effective mechanisms to investigate and prosecute corruption among police officials (HRR 2017). 

According to WISPI, Norway police score 0.658, 0.908, 0.916, 0.801 and 0% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Overall, Netherland scored 0.832 — making them the eight-country on the list of countries with the best police force.

9. Sweden

The level of corruption in Sweden is very low. Transparency International’s 2017 Corruption Perception Index ranks the country 6th place out of 180 countries.

There is a low risk of corruption when interacting with the Swedish police. Less than one in ten Swedes believe that corruption among police officers is widespread (Eurobarometer 2017). 

Sweden has the third-lowest perceived levels of corruption in the world, according to a new report from the anti-corruption campaign group Transparency International.

Considering the domains used by WISPI, Sweden police score 0.611, 0.920, 0.886, 0.848 and 6% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Overall, Sweden scored 0.830 — making them the ninth country on the list of countries with the best police force.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland is the tenth country on the WISPI list.

Generally, Switzerland is the third-least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International.

So, this records spread across to the police department of the country.

Businesses do not face significant corruption risks when dealing with the Swiss police.

Only a tiny percentage of Swiss citizens consider corruption to be extensive among the police (GCB 2017).

Moreover, companies consider the reliability of the police service as among the highest in the world (GCR 2017-2018).

Isolated occurrences of police corruption do occur. However, the government has adequate mechanisms to investigate and discipline abuse.

Considering the domains used by WISPI, Switzerland police score 0.674, 0.824, 0.900, 0.864 and 19% in Capacity, Process, Legitimacy, Outcomes and Imputed data respectively.

Overall, Switzerland scored 0.825 — making them the ninth country on the list of countries with the best police force.

Conclusion

Although the police department of these countries are ranked the best, they still have their shortcomings.

Therefore this list does not in any way declare them perfect. It only shows that they are levels above other country police in various aspects.

What do you think of our list of countries with the best police force? And how do you think your country can improve?

In other post, we gave you a list of countries with the most corrupt police force in the world.