NCJ Number
61867
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A SUGGESTED POLICY FOR BROAD-BASED POLICE CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS IN BRITAIN IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IN THE FACE OF INCREASING CRIME DUE TO THE DETERIORATION OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND STRUCTURES THAT DEVELOP SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, POLICE CANNOT OPERATE UNDER THE BELIEF THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT REACTION TO THE OFFENDER IS GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIME. POLICE MUST BALANCE THIS REACTIVE ROLE WITH PROACTIVE OPERATIONS IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO BUILD A SOCIAL FABRIC THAT CAN MOLD LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR. CRIME STATISTICS COLLECTED BY POLICE CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY THOSE COMMUNITIES WHOSE HIGH CRIME RATE IS EVIDENCE OF THE FAILURE OF THE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THAT COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP SELF-REGULATING BEHAVIOR, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUTH. THROUGH COOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS CONCERNED WITH SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS, POLICE CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING BUILD A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL REDUCE CRIMINOGENIC INFLUENCES. THIS APPROACH TO CRIME PREVENTION CHALLENGES THE TREND TOWARD POLICE PROFESSIONALIZATION AND SPECIALIZATION IN REACTIVE POLICING. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH HAS DISPROVED THE ASSUMPTION THAT INCREASED MANPOWER AND TECHNOLOGY CAN REDUCE CRIME. POLICE TRAINING MUST BE REVISED TO PRODUCE OFFICERS SKILLED IN COMMUNICATING WITH AND MOTIVATING COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT. PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, PROGRAMMING, AND HUMAN RELATIONS SKILLS MUST RECEIVE A TRAINING PRIORITY EQUAL TO THAT OF TRADITIONAL REACTIVE POLICING SKILLS. STAFF DEVELOPMENT TRAINING IN COOPERATION WITH THE PERSONNEL OF OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES COULD HELP TO REDUCE THE ISOLATION AND SPECIALIZATION OF THOSE GROUPS THAT SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT AN OVERALL PLAN FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)