Theoretical and methodological foundations for improving interpersonal and public communication in the professional training of future officers of the National Police of Ukraine

Abstract

This scientific study provides a comprehensive theoretical and methodological analysis of improving interpersonal and public communication in the system of professional training of future officers of the National Police of Ukraine in the context of social transformation and increasing public expectations regarding the quality of police services. It is substantiated that communicative competence has become a fundamental professional resource for modern police officers, directly influencing the effectiveness of law enforcement activities, the protection of human rights and freedoms, the legitimacy of police actions, and the level of public trust in law enforcement institutions.

The paper examines interpersonal and public communication as interrelated components of police professional activity operating within a complex legal, social, and psychological environment. It is demonstrated that interpersonal communication plays a crucial role in operational interaction, conflict situations, victim support, and decision-making processes, while public communication shapes the social image of the police, ensures transparency, and promotes constructive interaction with communities, media, and civil society organizations.

Particular attention is paid to methodological approaches to developing communicative competencies in police education, including the competence-based, activity-oriented, axiological, and integrative approaches. It is argued that the combination of theoretical knowledge with practice-oriented learning methods such as role-playing, situational simulations, case analysis, and communication training creates a sustainable foundation for the development of professionally significant communicative skills. Public communication is also analyzed as a strategic tool for building partnership-based relationships between the police and the community, which corresponds to contemporary democratic policing models. The study concludes that the purposeful development of interpersonal and public communication skills among future police officers is a necessary condition for enhancing the quality of policing, strengthening public trust, and promoting the rule of law in Ukraine.