NCJ Number
90611
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1983) Pages: 224-240
Date Published
1983
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Sweden has shown considerable inventiveness in exploring new police roles and tactics.
Abstract
Compared to American police, Swedish police enjoy closer cooperation with the public prosecutor; they are more efficiently organized for regional coordination and for nationwide information retrieval. Swedish police are also heavily committed to community service programs in education, recreation, crime prevention, and neighborhood policing. On the other hand, Swedish police are equally committed to a 'crime attack' model, using paramilitary tactics to intercept crimes in progress. These programs include random roadside breath tests to control drunken driving, high visibility traffic patrols combined with radar surveillance to control speeding, high visibility park patrols combined with preventive detention to control public order offenses, and foot patrol teams combined with video surveillance to control subway crime. In general, the Swedish police have shown that the 'tough' and the 'tender' approaches to crime prevention can be complementary and mutually supportive. In contrast to the current emphasis in American criminal policy on punishment, Swedish criminal policy is based on the premise that legislation dealing with housing, education, child care, and employment will ultimately have a greater effect upon crime rates than legislation on law enforcement and sentencing. A total of 33 references are given. (Author summary modified)