NCJ Number
67331
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE PREVENTIVE DEPLOYMENT OF THE BERLIN POLICE FORCE (WEST GERMANY) AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PLANNING COMMISSION CONCERNING CRIME PREVENTION ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
POLICE PRESENCE, A KEY CONCEPT OF CRIME PREVENTION, IS ENSURED IN BERLIN IN TWO WAYS. FIRST, THE ENTIRE CITY IS DIVIDED INTO SMALL PRECINCTS, EACH OF WHICH IS PATROLLED BY SEVERAL OFFICERS WHO GRADUALLY BECOME PART OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHO GAIN ITS TRUST AND RESPECT. SECOND, STREET CRIME IS PREVENTED THROUGH POLICE PATROLS AND RAIDS, THE UNOBTRUSIVE PRESENCE OF PLAIN-CLOTHES POLICE TEAMS IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS, AND MONTHLY BRIEFINGS ON SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL OFFENSE DISTRIBUTION LEADING TO AN OPTIMUM TACTICAL DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE FORCES. IN 1974, AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PLANNING TEAM CONSISTING OF ARCHITECTS, EDUCATORS, MEDICAL EXPERTS, JUVENILE PSYCHIATRISTS, POLICE OFFICERS, CRIMINOLOGISTS, JUDICIAL EXPERTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ECONOMISTS (COMMISSIONED BY THE BERLIN GOVERNMENT) PUBLISHED A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE PREVENTION AND REPRESSION OF CRIME. WITH REGARD TO CRIME PREVENTION THEY FOCUSED ON PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS INCREASING CITIZEN AWARENESS AND SELF-PROTECTION, SUGGESTIONS ON POLICE PRESENCE (WHICH LED TO THE REORGANIZATION OF THE BERLIN POLICE), AND IMPROVED POLICE INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE EXCHANGE OF DATA WITH OTHER AGENCIES (E.G., EMPLOYMENT COMMISSIONS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, REVENUE SERVICE). SINCE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STAGES OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S SOCIALIZATION TAKE PLACE AT A VERY EARLY AGE, NUMEROUS OF THEIR SUGGESTIONS CONCERNED JUVENILE SERVICES: TV PROGRAMS ON INFANT SOCIALIZATION, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO MOTHERS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY HOME DURING THE FIRST 3 YEARS OF THE CHILD'S LIFE, IMPROVED NURSERY SCHOOLS AND DAY-CARE CENTERS, PREVENTIVE EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, AND BETTER HOMES FOR CHILDREN NOT LIVING WITH THEIR FAMILIES. OTHER OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED THE SECTORS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, LEISURE ACTIVITIES, AND THE REPRESSION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE BERLIN MODEL IS THAT THE PREVENTION CONCEPT PERMEATES ALL OF SOCIETY AND IS NOT MERELY A POLICE TASK. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)