NCJ Number
77979
Journal
Police Research Bulletin Issue: 35/36 Dated: (Autumn 1980/Spring 1981) Pages: 52-57
Date Published
1981
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This British article discusses some supervisory problems associated with alternative shift systems in police manpower deployment in Great Britain and identifies some areas of police work where shift variations are currently being employed.
Abstract
Access to computerized statistics is considered vital in planning the deployment of manpower resources. User acceptance is a major consideration; it is urged that officers be offered some advantages for working unpopular shifts. Another problem is the assignment of relief inspectors to the various shifts. An example of a hypothetical six relief system based on management information from existing police divisions illustrates workload by day of the week. It is based on two 6-month surveys of the same division. Comparisons are made with a four relief system. Examples of multirelief systems actually in use include structured policing at Lancashire Constabulary, overlapping reliefs at West Midlands Police, and flexible policing at the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police. Tabular data are provided.