NCJ Number
218386
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: 2007 Pages: 82-92
Date Published
2007
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined the prevalence and impact of alcohol-related incidents on police resources in a major Australasian region.
Abstract
The study found that 25 percent of police work involved responses to alcohol-related incidents. The most common alcohol-related incidents to which police responded involved vehicle and/or traffic violations, disturbances, and property damage. These alcohol-related incidents were most likely to occur in early-morning hours on weekends. Police handling of these incidents usually required more time than incidents that did not involve alcohol abuse. These findings show the pervasiveness of alcohol's involvement in the incidents to which police respond as well as the above-average time police spend in handling alcohol-involved incidents. Police proactive actions in collaboration with health services and other government agencies in order to reduce alcohol abuse would be the most effective way to diminish the significant use of police resources for alcohol-related incidents. Study participants were first-response police officers. Each officer completed a modified activity log over a 5-week period in spring 2004. Log information identified the type of incident, the time spent in managing it, and the number of incidents that were alcohol-related (n=31,090). The officers served metropolitan areas as well as regional areas. 1 figure, 3 tables, 5 notes, and 29 references