NCJ Number
59892
Journal
Home Office Research Bulletin Issue: 7 Dated: (1979) Pages: 16-19
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASES IN POLICE MANPOWER FIT THE PUBLIC CONCEPTION OF POLICE WORK AS BEING A 'WAR ON CRIME', SUCH INCREASES ARE NOT NECESSARILY AN EFFECTIVE REMEDY TO RISING CRIME.
Abstract
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OVERESTIMATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH POLICE WORK IS CONCERNED DIRECTLY WITH CRIME, AND THEY GLAMORIZE THE NATURE OF THIS INVOLVEMENT. THIS POPULAR PERSPECTIVE OF POLICING IMPLIES THAT INCREASES IN POLICE MANPOWER AND RESOURCES WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN CRIME. HOWEVER, RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT THE PROPORTION OF CRIMES DISCOVERED BY POLICE PATROLS IS LESS THAN 5 PERCENT. VARIATIONS IN THE NUMBER OF POLICE ON FOOT OR MOBILE PATROL RESULT IN ONLY MARGINAL CHANGES IN THE CRIME RATE, ALTHOUGH A CERTAIN MINIMUM POLICE PRESENCE IS REQUIRED. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POLICE FUNCTIONS CONSISTS OF THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC MORALITY AND THE CONGRUENCE OF THAT MORALITY WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE. POLICE DETERRENT STRATEGIES MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT FOR WHAT THEY SYMBOLIZE TO THE PUBLIC, THAN FOR WHAT THEY ACTUALLY ACHIEVE IN TERMS OF ARRESTS. THE MORE SPECTACULAR ASPECTS OF POLICE WORK IMPLY EFFECTIVENESS, ALTHOUGH SUCH ASPECTS CONSTITUTE A SMALL AMOUNT OF POLICING. PUBLIC BELIEFS ABOUT POLICE ABILITY TO CATCH CRIMINALS STEM NOT FROM AN ACCURATE APPRECIATION OF CRIMINOLOGY, BUT FROM A DIFFUSE SERIES OF IMPRESSIONS GAINED SECOND-HAND. ALTHOUGH ATTEMPTS TO MORALLY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH LECTURES HAVE LIMITED IMPACT, GREAT SUCCESS IN RESTORING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE COULD BE ACHIEVED BY ELIMINATING POLICE CORRUPTION AND BY HAVING THE POLICE FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES OF DUE PROCESS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)