Community Response and Fear of Crime Implications for Community Policing (From Police and the Community in the 1990s: Conference Proceedings, 1990, P 173-186, 1991, Sandra McKillop and Julia Vernon, eds. -- See NCJ-132447)

• NCJ Number: 132459
• Author(s): D Collins
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Police departments should use public opinion surveys in police management and in the implementation of community policing to evaluate community fear of crime, attitudes toward police services, and satisfaction with police contacts.

Abstract

In recent years, the New South Wales police and the Australian Federal Police have introduced community policing concepts into police management. Community policing objectives are to increase positive contact between police and the community, encourage greater community support of and cooperation in crime prevention, and increase public confidence in the integrity and professionalism of police. Periodic community surveys can help police officers reduce citizen fear of crime and improve attitudes toward the police by identifying community perceptions and trends. For example, research suggests that declining police visibility is linked to increased fear of crime. Most contact with New South Wales police continues to be in the form of reporting a crime, general assistance or inquiry, and random breath testing. In the context of community policing, this indicates that nonstressful areas of citizen contact should be developed further. Police can reduce citizen fears and mistrust by directive patrolling, public transport patrolling, meetings and discussions with specific groups, Neighborhood Watch schemes, foot patrols in particular neighborhoods, and the use of customer service approaches in dealing with the public. 13 figures