NCJ Number
64037
Journal
Justitiele verkenningen Issue: 9 Dated: (1976) Pages: 418-433
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF THE DUTCH POLICE IN RENDERING PREVENTIVE ASSISTANCE TO THE PUBLIC AND PROGRAMS FOR IMPROVING THE ASSISTANCE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
STUDIES INDICATE THAT BETWEEN 41 AND 50 PERCENT OF POLICE TIME IS SPENT ON ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS INTERVENTION IN FAMILY FIGHTS AND TRAFFIC DISTURBANCES. IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS THE PUBLIC TENDS TO TURN TO THE POLICE, AND THE POLICE ROLE IN PROVIDING SOCIAL ASSISTANCE IS EXPECTED TO GROW AS SOCIETY BECOMES EVEN MORE COMPLEX. THE TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES OF ASSISTANCE SITUATIONS ARE SERVICES SUCH AS INFORMATION OR AID IN GETTING INTO LOCKED HOUSES AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT SITUATIONS. TO DEAL WITH THIS TYPE OF WORK SUCCESSFULLY, POLICE NEED IMPROVED INSTRUCTION IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL WORK DURING THEIR PERIOD OF BASIC TRAINING. A SECOND MEANS OF MEETING THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DEMANDS OF THE PUBLIC IS DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALISTS SUCH AS THE SPECIAL AREA PLAIN-CLOTHES OFFICER IN THE HAGUE WHO, PROVIDES ADVICE TO RESIDENTS OF CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE CITY AND MAINTAINS A NETWORK OF CONTACTS TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. THE WORK OF THE AREA AGENT HAS BEEN ASSESSED POSITIVELY BY OVER TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION. SIMILARLY, IN THE UNITED STATES NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE TEAMS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN IMPROVING POLICE-PUBLIC RELATIONS, IN PROVIDING SERVICES, AND IN COMBATTING CRIMES. FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS LIKE THOSE INTRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES COULD PROVE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF RENDERING CRISIS ASSISTANCE IF INTRODUCED IN THE NETHERLANDS. EFFORTS ARE PRESENTLY UNDERWAY TO HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE POLICE, SOMETIMES EVEN IN PATROLS, AS A MEANS OF PROMOTING IMMEDIATE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM EXPERTS. EVALUATION OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THESE NEW FORMS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BY THE POLICE IS ESSENTIAL BEFORE ANY OF THE PROGRAMS MAY BE EXPANDED. THIRTY-FIVE REFERENCES ARE SUPPLIED, AS ARE DATA TABLES.