Not all cops are bastards - Danish football supporters’ perception of dialogue policing.

The Danish police have changed their tactics in relation to their policing of football supporters. The changes have involved the development of a dialogue-based approach to the policing of football supporters. The changes seem to have contributed to a reduction in the number of arrests and football supporters detained. This article presents the first e-survey that involves football supporters’ perception of the dialogue approach and thus adds an ‘end-user’ perspective on the police work delivered by the Danish police. The results underline that the changes in police tactics have increased a sense of legitimacy among the football supporters that is in sharp contrast to the notion ‘ACAB’ (All Cops Are Bastards) used by football supporters all over Europe. The results from the survey indicate that a change towards a dialogue-based approach can be beneficial in relation to the police fulfilling core strategic goals like conflict reduction and creating a more peaceful atmosphere at football matches.