### Bridging the Confidence Gap

In everyday policing, citizens and states interact significantly. Yet even within capable governments like India's, community experiences vary widely.

### New Insights from Indian Slums

This article presents original survey data (8,000 households) and semistructured interviews with 160+ slum communities and their 170+ informal neighborhood leaders—offering fresh perspectives on policing quality in India.

### The Connection Matters

Our findings reveal that well-connected individuals express greater confidence in local policing. This isn't due to fewer conflicts, but rather reflects their ability to leverage social networks with police representatives.

### Practical Implications

The mixed-methods approach highlights conditions under which citizens perceive the police as neutral providers of order versus rent-seeking agents—offering crucial insights for India's governance challenges.