NCJ Number
66171
Journal
Police Research Bulletin Issue: 33 Dated: (AUTUMN 1979) Pages: 18-22
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE WEST MIDLANDS POLICE FORCE IN GREAT BRITAIN INVESTIGATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A MODIFIED FORM OF OPERATIONAL DAILY BRIEFING FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS MOTIVATED BY THE PLYMOUTH POLICE FORCE'S SUCCESS RATE IN REMEMBERING ITEMS SUPPLIED IN DAILY BRIEFINGS CONDUCTED OVER CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV). THESE BRIEFINGS WERE DEEMED SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY COVERED FEWER ITEMS THAN THE TRADITIONAL BRIEFINGS AND THUS DID NOT OVERLOAD OFFICERS' MEMORY SYSTEMS; THE CCTV BRIEFINGS WERE ALSO PRESENTED IN A MUCH BETTER AND MORE ORGANIZED WAY, WITH THE PRESIDING OFFICERS EMPHASZING CERTAIN MEMORABLE ASPECTS OF THE INFORMATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE FORCE INCORPORATED INTO THEIR TRADITIONAL DAILY OPERATIONAL BRIEFING SOME OF THE BENEFITS FOUND IN THE PLYMOUTH CCTV PROCEDURE, BUT WITHOUT USING THE EXPENSIVE CCTV ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. INSTEAD, THE FORCE READ OUT NO MORE THAN SEVEN ITEMS AT A BRIEFING AND A BLACKBOARD WAS USED ON WHICH THE MOST MEMORABLE ASPECT OF EACH ITEM WOULD BE WRITTEN. IN THE WEST MIDLANDS, THIS SAME TECHNIQUE WAS EMPLOYED IN SEVERAL STATIONS. MOREOVER, ITEMS WERE INCLUDED IN THE BRIEFING ONLY IF THEY WERE IMPORTANT, IF THE OFFICERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECALL THEM, AND IF THE OFFICERS COULD BE EXPECTED TO TAKE ACTION ON THEM. GENERALLY, THE MODIFIED SYSTEM LED TO A WORTHWHILE INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY. THE POSITIVE GAINS OF THE SYSTEM WERE (1) BETTER RETENTION OF INFORMATION PRESENTED AT BRIEFINGS, (2) MORE INVOLVEMENT BY THE OFFICERS BEING BRIEFED AND BY THE COLLATORS IN COMPILING THE BRIEFING ITEMS, (3) MORE INFORMATION REACHING THE COLLATORS, (4) LESS MATERIAL ORGANIZATION TIME, AND (5) LESS BRIEFING TIME. FINALLY, THE MODIFIED FORM OF DAILY BRIEFING CAN BE EASILY INTRODUCED AND MAINTAINED WITH MINIMAL COST. THE WEST MIDLANDS POLICE FORCE DECIDED TO CONDUCT ALL OF ITS OPERATIONAL BRIEFINGS IN THIS MANNER. REFERENCES AND EXAMPLES OF THE KINDS OF INFORMATION TO BE PRESENTED ARE SUPPLIED. (MHP)