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Culture's Consequences and the Police: Cross-Border Cooperation Between Police Forces in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands

NCJ Number
157904
Journal
Policing and Society Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (1995) Pages: 1-14
Author(s)
J Soeters; G Hofstede; M Van Twuyver
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper deals with cultural and organizational differences between police forces in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands; it emphasizes the significance of these differences for cross-border cooperation.
Abstract
To understand the significance of cross-border collaboration, interviews were conducted with police force officials and employees and questionnaires were administered to police officers and students. Data were collected in 1992 by a team of German, Belgian, and Dutch social scientsts and criminologists. The research focused on cultural and organizational features of police forces in the three countries. It was determined that crime-related border traffic necessitates cross-border collaboration on a more structural basis. The authors recommend several measures to improve such collaboration: intercultural training, job rotation, joint tasks, appointment of liaison officers, and establishment of liaison institutions. Theoretical and practical implications of the research findings are discussed. 31 references and 3 figures