NCJ Number
60478
Date Published
1979
Length
18 pages
Annotation
METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY THAT MEASURED THE IMPACT OF THE POLICE STRIKE IN FINLAND FROM FEBRUARY 13 TO MARCH 1, 1976.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE POLICE STRIKE WAS NATIONWIDE, HIGH-RANKING POLICE OFFICERS, THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL POLICE, THE SECURITY POLICE, AND THE ASSOCIATION OF FINNISH CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION POLICE WERE NOT ON STRIKE; 70 PERCENT (5,500 POLICE) OF THE COUNTRY'S POLICE WERE ON STRIKE. IN GENERAL, THE WORK OF THE UNIFORMED POLICE WAS COVERED BY THE STRIKE, WHILE THE WORK OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WAS NOT. THE AMOUNT AND NATURE OF PUBLIC DISTURBANCES AND CRIMINALITY DURING THE STRIKE WERE EXAMINED. THE ATTITUDE OF THE PUBLIC TOWARD THE STRIKE WAS DETERMINED THROUGH A GALLUP POLL OF A SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION AGED 15 AND OVER. SINCE OFFICIAL CRIME STATISTICS DID NOT APPEAR DURING THE STRIKE, DATA ON CRIME WAS TAKEN FROM REPORTS OF CRIME THAT CONTINUED TO BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE AGENCIES DURING THE STRIKE, VICTIMIZATION PHONE INTERVIEWS, AND ANY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA REPORTED SHOWING AN ACCIDENT DURING THE STRIKE. STUDY RESULTS SHOW THAT CRIMINALITY (AT LEAST SOME TYPES OF PROPERTY AND TRAFFIC OFFENSES) AND PUBLIC DISTURBANCES INCREASED. DESPITE THE STRIKE, HOWEVER, ORDER WAS MAINTAINED AND CRIMINALITY WAS NOT EXCESSIVE. THE EFFECTS OF THE POLICE STRIKE IN FINLAND CANNOT BE GENERALIZED TO ANOTHER SOCIETY, BECAUSE THE SOCIAL SITUATION IN FINLAND IS STABLE, AND THERE IS LITTLE, IF ANY, ORGANIZED CRIMINALITY. THE WEATHER WAS ALSO VERY COLD DURING THE STRIKE PERIOD. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)