ABSTRACT
This exploratory study examines citizens’ perceptions of St. Petersburg, Russia, and the expanded police powers to control and monitor citizens’ compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures. Results from a sample of 520 citizens show that overall their support for enhanced police powers and digital technologies was unenthusiastic. The most compelling reason for citizens’ willingness to empower the police with both traditional enforcement methods and digital technologies was the risk of infection for themselves. Gender, education, and marital status were related only to a few specific components of new powers to the police. This chapter contributes to the small yet expanding interest in exploring the factors associated with police empowerment during emergencies in which citizens are inclined to endorse granting expanded powers to law enforcement, particularly in nations with low public confidence and trust in legal institutions.
