NCJ Number
61858
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
POLICE CRIME PREVENTION IN THE NETHERLANDS IS DISCUSSED, FOCUSING ON SYMPTOM-ORIENTED CRIME PREVENTION AS A POLICE ACTIVITY.
Abstract
SINCE 1965, THE PROPERTY CRIME RATE HAS RISEN SHARPLY IN THE NETHERLANDS, AND THE POLICE CLEARANCE RATE FOR SUCH CRIMES HAS DECLINED. IN RESPONDING TO THIS SITUATION DUTCH POLICE HAVE CHOSEN TO FOCUS THEIR ENERGIES ON THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, INVOLVING THE REDUCTION OF GENERAL CRIMINAL THREATS AND THE ANALYSIS OF POSSIBLE DISPLACEMENT EFFECTS OF CRIME PREVENTION. THE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF POLICE TASKS DERIVED FROM THIS CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ARE (1) DIAGNOSIS, WHICH INVOLVES ASSESSING THE CRIME RISK FOR A PARTICULAR GROUP OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS IN A SPECIFIC AREA REGARDING SPECIFIC CRIMES; (2) PLANNING COUNTERMEASURES, WHICH ARE AIMED NOT ONLY AT THE REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF THE TARGETED CRIME THREAT BUT ALSO AT A GENERAL THREAT REDUCTION; (3) IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH OFTEN REQUIRES MOTIVATING POTENTIAL VICTIMS TO SELF-PROTECTIVE ACTION THROUGH ADVICE, ORGANIZED DISPENSING OF INFORMATION, ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF CRIME PREVENTION ORDINANCES; AND (4) EVALUATION, WHICH INVOLVES MEASURING THE EFFECTS OF ANY PREVENTIVE ACTIVITY THROUGH VICTIMIZATION STUDIES, INDEPTH SURVEYS, AND LONG-TERM STATISTICAL ANALYSES. INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE DELINEATED CRIME PREVENTION TASKS ARE STILL BEING DEVELOPED. THE MOST IMMEDIATE TASK IS TO DEVELOP A COORDINATING MECHANISM FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS. TO ACHIEVE THIS PURPOSE, A NUMBER OF REGIONAL CRIME PREVENTION DEPARTMENTS ARE ENVISIONED IN PLANS CURRENTLY IN A FINAL PREIMPLEMENTATION STAGE. GRAPHIC DATA ON CRIME AND CLEARANCE RATES IN THE NETHERLANDS ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH A CHART OF THE NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION ORGANIZATION. (RCB)