NCJ Number
68800
Date Published
Unknown
Length
20 pages
Annotation
SINCE TRADITIONAL POLICE PRACTICES OF REACTING TO CRIME DO LITTLE TO REDUCE MODERN CRIME RATES, THE POLICE AND COMMUNITY SHOULD WORK TOGETHER IN CANADA TO LIMIT CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITY.
Abstract
SINCE GOVERNMENT AND POLICE RESOURCES ARE DECLINING EVEN AS CRIME RATES INCREASE, THE PHILOSOPHY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICING MUST BE REEVALUATED. POLICING IN CANADA TRADITIONALLY EMPHASIZES INVESTIGATIONS, PATROLLING, AND ENFORCEMENT AT THE CRIME SCENE. POLICE MOSTLY RESPOND TO INCIDENTS AS THEY OCCUR. ALTHOUGH TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED THESE PRACTICES, THEY REMAIN RELATIVELY INEFFECTIVE AGAINST HIGH-VOLUME, MINOR CRIMES SUCH AS PETTY THEFT AND VANDALISM. MOREOVER, WHITE COLLAR CRIME, INVOLVING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR, DESERVES MORE POLICE RESOURCES THAN IT NOW RECEIVES. POLICE INEFFECTIVENESS IS AGGRAVATED BY PASSIVE CITIZEN ATTITUDES TO CRIME CONTROL. POLICE POLICIES EMPHASIZING THE REDUCTION OF CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITY ARE SUGGESTED AS A REMEDY, SINCE MUCH THEFT AND OTHER CRIME IS ENCOURAGED BY OPPORTUNITY. THE BETTER EDUCATED CITIZENS OF TODAY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF THEIR OWN HOMES AND ENVIRONMENTS, THUS FORESTALLING THE INCIDENCE OF MINOR CRIME. THE COMMUNITY HAS UNTAPPED COMPETENCY TO REDUCE CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITY THROUGH DESIGNING BETTER URBAN APARTMENT HOUSES, CONTROLLING CREDIT CARD FRAUD WITH STRICTER CARD CONTROL AND MAINTAINING ATTITUDES OF VIGILANCE AND COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.