NCJ Number
101829
Date Published
1985
Length
122 pages
Annotation
Detailed information from 157 robberies that occurred in Bristol, England, during 1983 indicated that although the police can do nothing to reduce the incidence of robbery, they can improve their effectiveness in apprehending the offenders.
Abstract
Case descriptions of the street robberies, robberies in homes and stores, and other types of robberies revealed a wide range of seriousness and investigability. A modification of a scoring system developed by the Stanford Research Institute in California grouped the robberies by solvability, seriousness, and results of investigation by the police. The police were more successful in solving the cases with higher solvability and seriousness scores. Simply increasing the number of police would probably have little effect on arrests. However, changing police powers and procedures relating to lineups for identification of suspects would be beneficial. The public will also have to take a more active part in prevention and in giving information to the police. Research also should focus on methods of managing investigations. Individual case summaries, data tables, case index, appendixes presenting forms and other materials, and 11 references.