NCJ Number
65699
Date Published
1969
Length
24 pages
Annotation
THIS INTERPOL REPORT SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF ITS 1969 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CRIME PREVENTION WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY 61 PARTICIPANTS FROM 33 COUNTRIES.
Abstract
DISCUSSIONS AT THE SYMPOSIUM CENTERED ON POLICE CRIME PREVENTION; POLICE CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES FOR SPECIFIC OFFENSES; CRIME PREVENTION AND THE JUVENILE DELINQUENT; OVERALL CRIME PREVENTION BY CONTROLLING PUBLIC BEHAVIOR AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC; AND THE ORGANIZATION OF CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WITHIN POLICE FORCES. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE CONCEPT OF CRIME PREVENTION COVERED A WIDE FIELD AND INCORPORATED ALL ACTION TAKEN BY THE POLICE BEFORE A CRIME WAS COMMITTED. IN MOST COUNTRIES, EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE NEED TO DEVELOP COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY BY EXTENSIVE USE OF THE MASS MEDIA. CRIME PREVENTION FOR SPECIFIC OFFENSES WAS EXAMINED FROM THE ASPECT OF PHYSICAL PROTECTION AND PREVENTION (EDUCATING POTENTIAL VICTIMS AND STRENGTHENING RESISTANCE TO CRIME). THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE DELEGATES THAT DEPARTMENT STORES SHOULD HANDLE THEIR OWN SURVEILLANCE WITH POLICE COOPERATION, AND THAT THE SURVEILLANCE SHOULD BE PUBLICIZED. INDUSTRIAL FIRMS SHOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY MEASURES. ALTHOUGH PRIVATE SECURITY HAS INCREASED, POLICE SHOULD BE USED AS TECHNICAL ADVISORS IN THESE CASES. PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES FELT THAT BURGLARY COULD BE PREVENTED MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH POLICE FOOT PATROLS OR MIXED POLICE PATROLS (FOOT AND MOTOR). FOR PREVENTING BANK ROBBERIES, SECURITY MEASURES SHOULD INCLUDE USE OF BULLET-PROOF GLASS, RETRACTABLE TILLS, ALARM SYSTEMS LINKING BANKS AND POLICE, CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION, AND INCREASED USE OF CHECKS. TO PREVENT CAR THEFT, THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEASURES WERE AGREED TO BE ANTITHEFT DEVICES ON CARS, THEFT PREVENTION EDUCATION, AND PROSECUTION OF NEGLIGENT CAR OWNERS. CONTROL OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY WAS HANDLED DIFFERENTLY BY EACH COUNTRY. ENGLAND EMPLOYED JUVENILE LIAISON OFFICERS; FRANCE UTILIZED SPECIAL LOCAL JUVENILE SQUADS; AND ITALY HAD A WOMEN'S POLICE FORCE WORKING WITH JUVENILES. EDUCATION OF JUVENILES IN THE CONSQUENCES OF CRIME, DELINQUENCY, AND DRUGS WAS PRACTICED IN MOST COUNTRIES. ALSO PREVALENT AMONG THE REPORTS FROM COUNTRIES ATTENDING THE SYMPOSIUM WERE REGULATIONS GOVERNING CRIME IN PUBLIC PLACES AND INCLUDED BARS, CINEMA AND OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS. CRIME PREVENTION EDUCATION WAS SAID TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE USING THE MASS MEDIA AS WELL AS FILMS, BROCHURES, POSTERS, SPECIAL STAMPS, AND TRACTS. (MJW)