NCJ Number
62549
Date Published
1979
Length
130 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS AND OPERATIONS ARE PRESENTED FOR THE LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT FOR 1978.
Abstract
CRIME FELL MARGINALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 8 YEARS, BUT THE LONDON POLICE HAD TO DEAL WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF DEMONSTRATIONS, PROCESSIONS, AND INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES, AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE EFFORTS BY POLITICAL EXTREMISTS TO EXACERBATE RACIAL TENSIONS AND ALIENATE MINORITY COMMUNITIES FROM THE POLICE, THERE WERE SIGNS OF IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY. A REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL NUMBER OF ROAD ACCIDENTS WAS MARRED BY AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE POLICE SERVICE, THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT WAS THE GRANTING OF A PAY RAISE TO METROPOLITAN POLICE WHICH LED TO AN UPSURGE IN RECRUITMENT TO THE FORCE AND A REDUCTION IN TURNOVER. EFFORTS HAVE CONTINUED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS TO PROVIDE MORE PERSONNEL FOR STREET DUTY. PLANNING CONTINUED FOR THE NEW COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM OF COMMAND AND CONTROL, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE COMMISSIONING OF COMMAND CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN AREA AND WILL INCORPORATE COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH, MESSAGE-SWITCHING, MANAGEMENT INFORMATION AND AUTOMATIC VEHICLE-LOCATION SYSTEMS, AND A REDESIGNED RADIO AND LINE NETWORK. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SYSTEM WILL NECESSITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COURSES TO TRAIN PERSONNEL IN THE USE OF THE NEW EQUIPMENT. IN THE AREA OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS, EXISTING SCHOOL PROGRAMS WERE UPDATED AND INTENSIFIED. A CURRICULUM WAS DEVELOPED TO PREPARE OFFICERS FOR THEIR SCHOOL VISITS. THE MAIN THRUST OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM IS IN THE HANDS OF 22 POLICE COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICERS. GRAPHIC AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)