NCJ Number
57888
Journal
Police Review Volume: 87 Dated: (APRIL 27, 1978) Pages: 654-658
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE WEST GERMAN GOVERNMENT HAS INSTITUTED A CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM USING A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF THE PRESS, TELEVISION, AND ADVERTISING TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 1964, BASED ON THE THEORY THAT CITIZENS COULD BETTER HELP IN CRIME PREVENTION IF THEIR AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEMS WERE INCREASED AND IF THEY OBSERVED SOME SIMPLE RULES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. THE BASIC CONCEPT IS TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, USING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION SOURCES AS A VEHICLE, WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING THE CRIME RATE BY (1) INITIATING AND FOSTERING THE NOTION OF SELF-PROTECTION IN THE POTENTIAL VICTIM, (2) REDUCING THE INCENTIVE TO COMMIT A CRIME, (3) INFLUENCING THE MOTIVATION OF THE POTENTIAL CRIMINAL, AND (4) APPEALING TO THE PUBLIC TO COOPERATE WITH THE POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES. TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC THE MONTHLY PROGRAM WAS BEGUN, HIGHLIGHTING ONE PARTICULAR CRIME CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICALLY DOCUMENTED CRIME RATE. PUBLIC AWARENESS WAS INCREASED BY MEANS OF POSTERS DISPLAYED PROMINENTLY IN PUBLIC PLACES. AN ANNUAL CALENDAR WAS ALSO PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, JOURNALISTS, SCHOOLS, AND PRIVATE CITIZENS. ADVERTISEMENTS WERE ALSO RUN IN NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES AND LEAFLETS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO TOURISTS IN TOURIST AREAS WITH REPUTEDLY HIGH CRIME RATES. THIS METHOD PROVED SO SUCCESSFUL THAT TRAVEL AGENCIES BEGAN DISTRIBUTING THE LEAFLETS TO TOURISTS AS PART OF THEIR SERVICE. PRESS RELEASES RELATING TO THE MONTHLY TOPICS WERE SENT TO NEWSROOMS AND TWO TELEVISION STATIONS DEDICATED 5 MINUTES A MONTH TO THE PROGRAM. THE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED IN 1970 TO INCLUDE AN ANNUAL CAMPAIGN AND SPECIAL CAMPAIGNS. HOWEVER, STATISTICS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO SHOW WHETHER THE PROGRAM HAS HELPED TO REDUCE CRIME IN WEST GERMANY. (STB)