NCJ Number
49709
Journal
POLISTIDNINGEN Volume: 74 Issue: 2 Dated: (1977) Pages: 38-40
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
A 1975 SURVEY OF SWEDISH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS REVEALED MEMBERS' PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE FUNCTIONS, THE TYPES OF WORK FOR WHICH OFFICERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE, AND SATISFACTION WITH POLICE.
Abstract
THE SURVEY, AMONG OTHERS THINGS, QUESTIONED RESPONDENTS ON POLICE TRAINING AND WORK METHODS, AND THEIR APPROPRIATENESS TO SOCIETY'S NEEDS; MEASURES FOR IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY; AND POSSIBILITIES FOR ALLOCATING POLICE RESOURCES TO INTENSIFY PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF SPECIFIC CRIMES SUCH AS DRUG ABUSE. RESPONSES OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS' MEMBERS CENTERED AROUND THREE MAIN AREAS: SOCIETY'S DEMANDS REGARDING POLICE ACTIVITY FROM A COMMUNITY VIEWPOINT, COMMUNITY INFLUENCE ON POLICE WORK, AND COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY ORGANS. MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF RESPONDENTS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITY; MANY PERSONS THOUGHT POLICE INSTRUCTION ON LAW AND LEGAL MATTERS IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WAS IMPORTANT; AND SOME INDIVIDUALS STRESSED THE WEED FOR BETTER EDUCATED POLICE FORCES. COMMUNITIES PLACED MUCH EMPHASIS ON POLICE VISIBILITY IN THE STREETS. REGARDING THE WORKLOAD OF POLICE, MANY RESPONSES SUGGESTED THAT BUSINESS STAFF BE HIRED TO TAKE CARE OF ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. COUNTY PERSONNEL SUGGESTED THAT THE SMALLER POLICE DEPARTMENTS BE CONSOLIDATED TO IMPROVE OVERALL POLICE SERVICE, THE WORK OF THE SWEDISH CRIME PREVENTION COUNSIL BE MORE INTENSE AND BE INTEGRATED WITH THAT OF OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES, AND SEPARATE TRAFFIC POLICE FORCES BE ELIMINATED IN SMALLER TOWNS AND THEIR DUTIES TAKEN OVER BY PEACE OFFICERS. --IN SWEDISH. (DAG)