NCJ Number
45458
Journal
Revue de la police nationale Issue: 104 Dated: (1977) Pages: 23-30
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
INITIATIVES BY THE MARSEILLES, FRANCE, POLICE TO IMPROVE THEIR PUBLIC IMAGE ARE DESCRIBED, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO A POLICE INFORMATION TELEPHONE SERVICE.
Abstract
THE POLICEMAN'S ORIGINAL ROLE--BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY--HAS BEEN LOST BECAUSE A MAZE OF NEW LAWS (E.G., TRAFFIC LAWS AND FISHING REGULATIONS) HAVE CAUSED AN ADVERSARY RELATIONSHIP TO DEVELOP BETWEEN CITIZENS AND POLICE. TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION, THE POLICE SHOULD BECOME 'OTHER-DIRECTED' AND 'OFFER SOMETHING EXTRA.' THE FIRST STEP REQUIRES RESEARCH AND CHANGE IN POLICE TRAINING. THE SECOND STEP IS TO IMPROVE THE POLICE IMAGE BY HAVING OFFICERS OFFER CERTAIN SERVICES WHILE PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES. IN MARSEILLES, SEVERAL PUBLIC RELATIONS INITIATIVES WERE UNDERTAKEN. TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH BETTER RECEPTION AT POLICE STATIONS, 25 MEMBERS OF THE STAFF VOLUNTEERED TO UNDERGO A 2-WEEK TRAINING COURSE WHICH STRESSED GOOD MANNERS AND SKILLS IN PROVIDING PUBLIC INFORMATION. A POLICE INFORMATION SERVICE WAS ALSO ESTABLISHED WHICH GIVES TELEPHONE CALLERS DESIRED INFORMATION REGARDING LAWS, CUSTOM FORMALITIES, AND PASSPORTS, AS WELL AS DIRECTING THEM TO THE RIGHT AGENCIES FOR NONPOLICE INFORMATION. THE SERVICE DOES NOT REQUIRE INTRICATE OFFICE EQUIPMENT, JUST ONE OR MORE TELEPHONE LINES, AN EASILY-REMEMBERED TELEPHONE NUMBER, PROVISION FOR A RECORDED MESSAGE WHEN NECESSARY, A SUPPLY OF INFORMATIONAL LEAFLETS, ORGANIZATIONAL DIRECTORIES, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS, AND SOME BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF LAW AND A DESIRE TO BE OF SERVICE. BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRST 3 MONTHS, IT IS PREDICTED THAT 15,000 QUERIES WILL HAVE BEEN ANSWERED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, PROVIDING AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD RESTORING GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND COMMUNITY. --IN FRENCH. (INL)