DO WE ACTUALLY NEED THE POLICE? (FROM SOCIAL CHANGE, CRIME AND POLICE: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, JUNE 1-4, 1992, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, P 369-376, 1993, JOZSEF VIGH AND GEZA KATONA, EDS. -- SEE NCJ-144794)

• NCJ Number: 144831
• Author(s): A Nelson
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: Eotvos Lorand University
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Hungary

Annotation

This paper examines the legal basis for police work in Sweden and analyzes police efficiency and the concentration of police duties in crime-control efforts.

Abstract

Although the police in Sweden have long enjoyed public confidence, they have recently been criticized by the media and criminologists for their lack of visibility and apparent incompetence. In a trend to narrow police duties to crime control, some former police responsibilities have been transferred to other public agencies and others may follow. Another trend is to use private organizations to perform work currently done by the police. Although the aim to increase police effectiveness and efficiency by narrowing its focus to crime prevention and control has benefits, the downsizing of organizational duties must be accompanied by the motivation of personnel to perform competent investigations. One danger of transferring current police duties to other public authorities and private organizations is that police may lose contact with certain sources of information and with citizens. Although the police should be the only agency empowered to intervene with force to administer the law and maintain order, if this becomes its sole function, the public is likely to view the police as repressive and threatening. Legal parameters for the police use of force must be maintained, and the police must be the only public or private agency allowed to make formal arrests.