THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY FORCES FACING BIOLOGICAL THREAT

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that both state structures and citizens have not been prepared to face up a biological threat. The hesitant way in which, at first, action was taken to limit the spread of the new virus led to the emergence of situations that changed the relationship between the state and the population. The trust of a part of the citizens in the state structures has been altered, especially because of the restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the virus. Those who are in direct contact with citizens and who apply these restrictions are the law enforcement and other forces protecting public order and safety. At present, the countries of the world are in a position to think over some strategy meant to restore the confidence of their population in these forces. This distrust, along with conspiracy theories, endangers national and regional security because it is the ground for the proliferation of populism and extremism. The paper presents the sticking points of the relationship between the citizen and the law enforcement and public safety forces that a strategy at the state and regional level should solve in order to restore a level of trust at which security is ensured.