NCJ Number
13714
Journal
Police Research Bulletin Issue: 23 Dated: (SPRING 1974) Pages: 32-38
Date Published
1974
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT DISCLOSES WIDE DISCREPANCIES IN THE UTILIZATION OF UNIT BEAT POLICING SCHEMES.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE URBAN WORKLOADS PROJECT IS TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF UNIT BEAT POLICING SCHEMES. IN BROAD TERMS THESE SCHEMES ARE DISTINGUISHABLE FROM EARLIER POLICING METHODS BY THE USE OF PERSONAL RADIOS, THE WIDER USE OF VEHICLES FOR PREVENTIVE PATROL PURPOSES, THE POSTING OF CONSTABLES PERMANENTLY TO A BEAT (AND IDEALLY RESIDENT IN THAT AREA) AND THE INTRODUCTION OF COLLATORS TO ASSEMBLE, MAINTAIN AND DISPENSE INFORMATION FROM ANY SOURCE LIKELY TO BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THE POLICE IN THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIME. IN THE TWELVE TOWNS THAT TOOK PART IN THE STUDY, THE PERCENTAGE OF TIME SPENT ON CRIME INCIDENTS VARIED FROM A LOW OF 1.2 PERCENT TO A HIGH OF 5.2 PERCENT FOR FOOT PATROLMEN, MARKED POLICE CAR (PANDA CAR) PATROLS SPENT A HIGH OF 9.3 PERCENT AND A LOW OF 4.4 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME ON CRIME INCIDENTS. BAR GRAPHS COMPARE WORKLOAD AND MANPOWER BY DAY OF WEEK AND TIME OF DAY FOR THE COMBINED STUDY GROUP. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT 'RESOURCES SHOULD BE MATCHED WITH RECORDED DEMAND IN SOME WAY'. HOWEVER, THE URBAN WORKLOADS STUDY HAS NOT REACHED A STAGE WHERE FIRM CONCLUSIONS CAN BE PRESENTED ABOUT UNIT BEAT POLICING.