NCJ Number
50491
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
OPERATIONAL PLANNING--THE APPLICATION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO SPECIFIC TASKS--IN AUSTRALIAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
OPERATIONAL PLANNING COVERS ROUTINE, DAY-TO-DAY SITUATIONS, AS WELL AS SPECIAL EVENTS, EMERGENCIES, AND DISASTERS. TO ASSURE OPTIMUM USE OF RESOURCES IN ROUTINE OPERATIONS, PERIODIC REVIEWS ARE NECESSARY. POLICE PERFORMANCE IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS MUST ALSO BE ASSESSED, WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING POLICE HANDLING OF THE NEXT EMERGENCY, DISASTER, OR OTHER SITUATION. THE EUDEMONY PHILOSOPHY OF POLICING HOLDS THAT THE TRUE MEASURE OF POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IS A SENSE OF PUBLIC WELL-BEING. NOT ONLY MUST THE POLICE CONSCIENTIOUSLY DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES, BUT THE PUBLIC MUST BE AWARE THAT IT IS BEING PROTECTED. THIS AWARENESS IS ACHIEVED PRIMARILY THROUGH A VISIBLE, UBIQUITOUS POLICE PRESENCE. IN THIS CONTEXT, AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN THAT OF THE PERSONAL RADIO, WHICH HAS FREED OFFICERS FROM THEIR PATROL CARS. THE PERSONAL RADIO HAS RESULTED IN ECONOMICAL USE OF MANPOWER, SIMPLIFICATION OF COMMAND AND CONTROL, AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY, AND IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF AN EFFORT TO PUT UNIFORMED OFFICERS BACK ON THE BEAT. ONE SUCH EFFORT IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, WAS A PROJECT ESTABLISHING FOOT PATROLS IN SUBURBAN SHOPPING DISTRICTS. THE PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING CRIME. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN OPERATIONAL PLANNING INCLUDE EMPHASIS ON ENSURING THAT LINE OFFICERS UNDERSTAND DEPARTMENTAL POLICY, RECOGNITION THAT MEDIA COVERAGE OF POLICE ACTIVITIES IS LEGITIMATE AND OFTEN DESIRABLE, FORMULATION OF STANDARD PLANS FOR COPING WITH STANDING COMMITMENTS (SPORTING EVENTS, BUSHFIRES, ETC.), ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL RESERVE UNITS TO DEAL WITH SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES (E.G., SPEED-MEASURING DEVICES, BREATH ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTS, FORENSIC SCIENCE TECHNIQUES). (LKM)