OFFENCES RECORDED AS KNOWN TO THE POLICE - SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIME

• NCJ Number: 29027
• Author(s): D STEER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PAPER PRESENTED AT THE THIRD BRISTOL SEMINAR ON THE SOCIOLOGY OF THE POLICE, APRIL 1975

Annotation

THE NUMBER OF CRIMES RECORDED AS KNOWN TO THE POLICE IS NEITHER A PERFECT NOR ALWAYS NEUTRAL MEASURE OF THE LEVEL OF CRIME, POSITS THE AUTHOR, WHO FURTHER STATES THAT THE INDICTABILITY OF AN OFFENSE AFFECTS ITS ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

FROM RESEARCH THAT IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE PENAL RESEARCH UNIT WITH THE HELP OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION UNIT. THE AUTHOR SHOWS THAT THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IS A 'CRIME' FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES MAY ULTIMATELY DETERMINE THE RESPONSE OF INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS TO PARTICULAR SITUATIONS. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE CASE OF NONINDICTABLE OFFENCES AKIN TO CRIME. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT CHANGES IN THE DEFINITION OF 'CRIME', MIGHT HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE PATTERN OF ENFORCEMENT. NONE OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE LIKELY TO RESULT WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE. BUT NEITHER OUGHT THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR OCCURRING TO BE OVERLOOKED. THE NON-INDICTABLE OFFENSES WHICH ARE NOT (BY PREFERENCE) NORMALLY HANDLED BY DETECTIVES, WHO RELEGATING THEM TO UNIFORMED OFFICERS, INCLUDE: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT; ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER; BROTHEL KEEPING; PIMPING; CRUELTY TO CHILDREN; INDECENT EXPOSURE; UNLAWFUL POSSESSION; AND LOITERING WITH INTENT.