NCJ Number
61855
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A CHIEF CONSTABLE DISCUSSES PREVENTIVE, REACTIVE, AND PROACTIVE POLICING IN ENGLAND AND WALES AND SUGGESTS THREE POSSIBLE LEVELS OF CRIME PREVENTION.
Abstract
RAPID POSTWAR CHANGE IS BRINGING ABOUT A POLICE SYSTEM THAT EMPHASIZES A REACTIVE OR QUICK RESPONSE ROLE, RATHER THAN THE FORMER PREVENTIVE ONE. IN ITS EXTREME FORM, THIS TREND COULD LEAD TO THE DETERIORATION OF POLICE AND PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS AND THE ASSUMPTION, BY OTHER AGENCIES, OF THE PREVENTIVE RESPONSIBILITY. POLICING SHOULD EMPHASIZE NOT ONLY REACTIVE AND DETECTIVE ELEMENTS BUT CONSTRUCTIVE CRIME PREVENTION THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT WIDER COMMON LAW CONCEPTS OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. CURRENT POLICE SYSTEMS SHOULD DO MORE THAN RESPOND WITH SKILL, MANPOWER, AND, IN EXTREME CASES, FIRE POWER. THEY SHOULD BE PROACTIVE, OR BUILD ON FORMER CRIME PREVENTION SYSTEMS, WHILE REINFORCING COMMUNITY SOCIAL AND LEGAL DISCIPLINES, AND MUTUAL TRUST. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CRIME PREVENTION SUPPORT UNIT WORKS WITH RESEARCHERS TO IDENTIFY CRIME AND COMMUNITY PROBLEMS, AND WITH THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING THE UNEMPLOYED, TO PREVENT CRIME. POLICE PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND TERTIARY PREVENTIVE POLICING, AND A PREDOMINANT ROLE IN THE LAST TWO. WHILE PRIMARY PREVENTIVE POLICING INVOLVES THE TOTAL SOCIETY, SECONDARY POLICING INCLUDES POLICE FOOT AND MOBILE PATROLS, AUXILIARIES, COMMERCIAL SECURITY LIAISONS, AND PREVENTION ADVICE. TERTIARY PREVENTION INVOLVES DETECTIVE AND CORRECTIONAL WORK AND AN ENLIGHTENED PENAL POLICY. FUTURE CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS SHOULD INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL POLICE BODIES, POLICE COURSES AND SEMINARS, MEDIA SUPPORT, COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND RESEARCH. (AOP)