NCJ Number
80184
Journal
Tijdschrift voor de politie Volume: 40 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1978) Pages: 253-257,259-263,265-267
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Heated discussion in the Netherlands over police administration and authority concerns the division of responsibility and interaction among the police, the justice system, and the government.
Abstract
The crucial issue relates to the balance between controls necessary to protect rights of the individual in a democratic society and the discretionary power needed by the police for effective law enforcement. The law provides a dual authority structure over the police. Goal setting, policymaking, and regulation of crime investigative powers are under the purview of the Ministry of Justice. Administrative and public order concerns are under mayoral authority. Increasing diversification and visibility of police in both their crime control and public service activities requires improved communication and interaction among justice, government, and police agencies. Specially suggested is formation of joint management groups composed of representatives from all three. Such an effort would serve to clarify differences and distribute responsibilities without the complex legislative and organizational reforms that some critics have called for. Photographs and 31 footnotes are given.