NCJ Number
82952
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (1981) Pages: 223-229
Date Published
1981
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article describes the use of manpower projections in a Canadian police force for the patrol division and the criminal investigation section.
Abstract
The data required to project future patrol workload include the breakdown of time spent by each member per shift; historical data, e.g., consumed time by offense type; and present manpower available. Based on historical workload data, a statistical model can be used to project future workload. The model varies with the characteristics of the data. In addition, the internal and external conditions of the department must remain the same in order that future increases in workload flow follow a similar trend. For example, an increase in the growth rate of the population may increase the total force workload. The next step is to look at the breakdown on time spent by each patrol member. Manpower projection is inversely proportional to the consumed time per shift. Data required to project future workload of the criminal investigation forces include current manpower resources available on an annual basis, the amount of time spent by investigators on case investigations, and historical data on cases investigated by offense type. Straight line equations to represent growth trends for each offense type should be implemented, and manpower resources should be provided in easily accessible format. Five tables and several equations are provided.