NCJ Number
46654
Journal
Australian Police Journal Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 3-20
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE EVOLUTION AND CURRENT STATE OF THE POLICE ROLE, INCLUDING PERIPHERAL FUNCTIONS ARE DISCUSSED AND CHANGES ARE PROPOSED TO DEAL WITH ORGANIZED CRIME, LEGAL RESTRICTION OF POLICE POWERS, AND SOCIO-LEGAL PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE HISTORY OF CIVILIAN POLICING IS TRACED BRIEFLY FROM A SAXON PEACE PRESERVATION SYSTEM OF 2,000 YEARS AGO. CONTEMPORARY THEORISTS FROM THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD ARE QUOTED. THE PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND PUNISHMENT OF CRIME AS THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF POLICE ACTIVITY HAS CHANGED. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 60 PERCENT OF POLICE ACTIVITY IN THE COMMUNITY NOW RELATES TO SUCH NONCRIMINAL MATTERS AS TRAFFIC CONTROL, FIRST AID, ESCORTING FUNERALS, AND POLICE BOYS CLUBS. SOME AUTHORITIES FEEL THAT THESE ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE DIVORCED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SOME PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POLICE ROLE IN THIS CHANGING DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY INVOLVE RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, LEGAL PROBLEMS WITH GENERAL CRIME AS WELL AS ORGANIZED OR PROFESSIONAL CRIME, THE RESTRICTION OF POLICE POWERS, AND POLICING OF MINOR OFFENSES SUCH AS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. GENERAL CRIME IN AUSTRALIA IS ON THE UPSWING, BUT THE POLICE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE MORE INSIDIOUS AND LESS EASILY COMBATIBLE ORGANIZED TYPE OF CRIME. THE BRITISH EMPHASIS IN POLICING ORGANIZED CRIME IS ON TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE GATHERING, BUT THE AUSTRALIAN APPROACH HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE INCREASED CONCERN FOR CITIZENS' CIVIL RIGHTS, CLEARLY SEEN IN U.S. COURT DECISIONS AND EVENTUALLY BOUND TO BE ADOPTED BY THE BRITISH COURTS WILL PLAY AN INCREASINGLY PROMINENT PART IN THE FUTURE. RISING AUTOMOBILE USE EMPHASIS ON TRAFFIC CONTROL DUE TO GREATER AFFLUENCE IN AUSTRALIA ARE OTHER NEW PROBLEMS TO BE FACED. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, DRUG USE, VIOLENT DISSIDENT GROUPS AND PROTEST GROUPS, ARE ALL EXPECTED TO GROW IN COMING YEARS, AND THE ROLE OF THE POLICE MUST CHANGE IN THE LIGHT OF THESE NEW REALITIES. (DJM)