NCJ Number
184270
Date Published
1997
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Indicating that the police service in Australia receives a significant share of government resources and believing evidence does not always support police effectiveness based on crime rates, the author says Australian policy makers have focused on new policing methods that emphasize both crime prevention and cooperation between police officers and the community.
Abstract
The emphasis on problem-oriented and community policing in Australia over the past decade has been designed to change the focus from the traditional crime fighting role of the police to crime prevention. Various manifestations of crime prevention, as they have been embraced by the police, are described. Reasons why crime prevention policies have been affected by difficulties inherent in their conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation are noted. Following a discussion of the police role in crime prevention, problem-oriented policing, and community policing, the author suggests a crime prevention agenda for the future that allocates crime prevention responsibilities to both public and private organizations. He contends that there may be some crime prevention functions the police should completely avoid, and the preferred option may be for the police to ensure that other agencies and groups, such as health care providers, schools, town planners, and families, take responsibility. 70 references