NCJ Number
86761
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Volume: 37 Issue: 359 Dated: (June/July 1982) Pages: 156-162
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A campaign in a French community designed to improve relations between the public and the local police used an ad campaign that consisted of a poster, a brochure, and a book of matches.
Abstract
The aim of the campaign was to provide citizens with practical guidance in crime prevention, improve the public image of the police officer by making the public more familiar with police work, and reassure the public that the police are contributing to community safety. A poster that touted the police as being trustworthy and constantly available to serve the public was a brochure circulated in the community consisted of four parts: (1) an editorial on police services by the chief of police; (2) a description of the organization and functions of the police; (3) advice on crime prevention in the streets, in the home, for schoolchildren, and for the elderly; and (4) instructions for reporting a crime. So as to prolong the effect of the posters and brochure, a book of matches was produced which advertised the campaign slogan: '24 hours a day your policemen are on the job, on patrol, rest assured.' The inside cover contained the address and telephone number of the local police station. Public opinion and the press agreed that the campaign inspired a greater feeling of security among citizens and improved police-community relations.