NCJ Number
160713
Editor(s)
J-P Brodeur
Date Published
1995
Length
232 pages
Annotation
This compilation of papers, initially presented at a 1992 conference on policing systems and police cooperation in Europe, provides an informative perspective on the current state of policing in Europe and compares European and North American policing styles.
Abstract
The papers describe policing in European countries with regard to history, mandate, personnel, structure, accountability, and future trends. Several policing models are differentiated and compared, including the community policing model and other models characterized in terms of their national origin (England, France, and Germany). The crisis facing many police departments is discussed with respect to budget resources, administrative turmoil at the police leadership level, efficient police service delivery, and debate over the true mandate of police organizations. The papers consider the extent to which police departments are held accountable for their actions, police centralization versus decentralization, crime prevention, technological developments in policing, and cooperation with Eastern Europe countries. Public policing is viewed as one tool among many others to achieve the goal of community security, and it is pointed out that the concept of a policing model should not be used normatively as a standard against which to measure other models thought to be less adequate. References, notes, and tables