HOW EFFECTIVE IS PREVENTIVE POLICING?

• NCJ Number: 56448
• Journal: Police Review Volume: 87 Dated: (MARCH 2, 1979) Pages: 322-325
• Author(s): B POLLARD
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Police Review Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

A COMMUNITY-BASED, FOOT-PATROL, PREVENTIVE POLICING PROGRAM FOR AN ENGLISH HIGH-RISK COMMUNITY IS DESCRIBED, AND AN EVALUATION APPROACH THAT WILL BE USED TO MEASURE ITS EFFECTIVENESS IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IN THE HIGHFIELDS SECTION OF GREATER LONDON, A DEPRIVED AREA COMPOSED OF A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ASIAN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, THE POLICE RESPONDED TO COMMUNITY APPEALS BY DEVELOPING AN INTENSIVE PROGRAM OF PREVENTIVE POLICING. THE COMMUNITY WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO UNITS, EACH OF WHICH WAS SUBDIVIDED TO FORM TWO FOOT BEATS. THE SECTION IS POLICED BY CONSTABLES WORKING UNDER ONE INSPECTOR WITH A SERGEANT AS HIS DEPUTY. EACH OF THE FOUR FOOT BEATS IS POLICED BY EIGHT CONSTABLES WHO PROVIDE FOOT PATROL COVER FROM 8 A.M. UNTIL 2 A.M. AND MAINTAIN PANDA-CAR COVER FOR 24 HOURS PER DAY. FIRST-LINE OPERATIONAL SUPERVISION IS PROVIDED BY EIGHT SERGEANTS WHO HAVE A SUBDIVISIONAL RATHER THAN A SECTION RESPONSIBILITY. OPERATIONAL INSPECTOR COVER DURING THE ABSENCE OF THE SECTION INSPECTOR IS PROVIDED BY OTHER INSPECTORS WHO HAVE A DIVISIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. EACH FOOT BEAT IS DIVIDED INTO EIGHT PARTS, EACH ENCOMPASSING ONLY TWO OR THREE STREETS. EACH OF THE EIGHT CONSTABLES RESPONSIBLE FOR A PARTICULAR BEAT IS ASSIGNED ONE OF THE SMALL AREAS WHICH HE IS EXPECTED TO KNOW THOROUGHLY. CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITIZENS IS ENCOURAGED. THE EXPERIMENT BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER 1976, AND AS OF MARCH 1979 PLANS WERE UNDERWAY TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. THE ATTEMPT TO MEASURE PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS WILL BE BOTH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE. THE QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENT WILL INCLUDE COMPARING CRIME STATISTICS BEFORE AND AFTER PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, TOGETHER WITH INCIDENTS OF A PUBLIC ORDER NATURE, AND COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE AS COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS. QUALITATIVE MEASUREMENT WILL CONSIST OF INTERVIEWS WITH OFFICERS HAVING VARYING DEGREES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM AND SELECTED KEY MEMBERS OF THE HIGHFIELDS COMMUNITY. (RCB)