NCJ Number
93414
Date Published
1983
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This report on the work of the Essex Police (England) in 1983 discusses the progress the police force made in slowing the growth of crime, in handling special offenders, and in maintaining high standards despite manpower limitations.
Abstract
In 1982, the greatest problem faced by the Force was the marked rise in crime. Fortunately, in 1983 crime rose only 2.4 percent overall. Various categories of crime show rises and drops in a pattern that defies rational explanation. The overall detection rate moved up by 1 percent to 41 percent, a clear indication of the priority which the Force affords to antisocial offenses. This order of priority will remain. The Force attempted a more enlightened approach to elderly offenders and juveniles. Cautioning first offenders in these categories has eliminated a number of unnecessary prosecutions. For the fifth year in a row, the proportion of juveniles in detected crime fell, giving credence to the procedure of cautioning. The Force aimed for greater efficiency despite manpower limitation. More officers returned to operational patrol duties to give an added sense of security to the citizenry. Road accidents continued to be a depressing figure, despite fewer casualties. Detailed tables, a district map, and an organizational chart are included.