MANAGING THE BERLIN (GERMANY) POLICE

• NCJ Number: 56032
• Journal: Garda Review Volume: 6 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 18-19,21
• Author(s): R CLUTTERBUCK
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Garda Review Ltd
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Ireland

Annotation

REFORMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND STRETCH LIMITED POLICE RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL TO MEET A RISING CRIME RATE ARE DESCRIBED FOR BERLIN, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, POLICE.

Abstract

IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE FAILURE OF POLICE TO STEM AN INCREASING CRIME RATE IN BERLIN THROUGH THE EXISTING STRUCTURE OF OPERATIONS, JOINT TEAMS OF CONSULTANTS AND POLICE OFFICIALS EXAMINED THE WHOLE SPHERE OF POLICE ACTIVITIES AND PRODUCED A REPORT FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE POLICE UNIONS AND THE PUBLIC. AMONG THE WEAKNESSES DIAGNOSED WERE A LACK OF CLEAR JOB DEFINITIONS AND OBJECTIVES, DIFFICULTY IN MEASURING PERFORMANCE RESULTS, LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN POLICE BRANCHES, AND UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORKLOAD. A GROWING PROBLEM OF MORALE AND MOTIVATION ALSO WAS DETECTED. PROPOSALS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS DEALT WITH THE POLICE COMMAND STRUCTURE, TRAINING, AND MATERIAL RESOURCES. THEY INCLUDED CONSOLIDATION OF 112 STATIONS INTO 31 SECTIONS RELEASING 1,200 MEN FOR PATROL DUTY PLAINCLOTHES TASK FORCE ASSIGNED TO IT. WHENEVER COOPERATION IS NEEDED BETWEEN THE PLAINCLOTHES TASK FORCE FOR EACH OF THESE SECTIONS AND UNIFORMED POLICE AT DIRECTORATE OR SECTOR LEVEL, A COMMAND TEAM IS FORMED BY THE CHIEFS OF BOTH THE PLAINCLOTHES AND THE UNIFORMED OFFICERS. BELOW THE SECTION LEVEL, A 'CONTACT MAN' POSITION HAS BEEN CREATED. EACH CONTACT MAN IS A SENIOR OFFICER, WHOSE JOB IS TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC WHILE COORDINATING POLICE ACTIVITIES ON HIS BEAT. THE BERLIN POLICE ARE NOW MORE EFFECTIVELY ORIENTED TOWARD PREVENTIVE POLICING. CONTINUOUS ANALYSIS OF INCIDENTS ON A DAILY, MONTHLY, AND SEASONAL BASIS ALLOWS EACH SECTION TO DISCERN AND DEAL WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND THE GROUPING OF A NUMBER OF SEPARATED COMPUTER DEPARTMENTS AND LABORATORIES INTO THE SAME BUILDINGHAS CAUSED MORE EFFICIENT RESOURCE USED. ALSO, PATROL CARS HAVE BEEN CONSIGNED TO A CENTRAL POOL AND THE POLICE TRAINING STRUCTURE WAS REVISED. (RCB)