NCJ Number
67732
Journal
Australian Police Journal Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 42-51
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE POLICE IMAGE IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, COULD LEAD TO GREATER PUBLIC COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE AND COULD ATTRACT A HIGH QUALITY POLICE RECRUIT.
Abstract
THE POLICE IMAGE IN VICTORIA HAS BEEN BADLY TARNISHED RECENTLY BY THE BEACH INQUIRY SET UP TO INVESTIGATE MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS. THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF URBAN POLICE IS LARGELY FORMED BY ITS CONTACT WITH POLICE DURING MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS AND THROUGH THE TELEVISION, THE LATTER OF WHICH ONLY SUPPLIES THE SENSATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE POLICE DAY. THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION, WITH 33 STAFF MEMBERS ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE THIS IMAGE. IT FOCUSES ON NEWS MEDIA, PUBLIC SPEECHES, SAFETY CAMPAIGNS, AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES. OTHER WORK IN BEING DONE IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE REINTRODUCTION OF THE UNIFORMED BEAT HAS SERVED AS A DETERRENT TO ARMED ROBBERY, SHOPLIFTING, AND MINOR OFFENSES, AND HAS ALSO INCREASED PUBLIC CONTACT WITH THE POLICE. OPERATION SPEAK-UP, WHICH ENCOURAGES THE PUBLIC TO TELEPHONE INFORMATION TO THE POLICE, HAS BEEN LESS THAN FULLY SUCCESSFUL, BUT DESERVES SUPPORT. THE BICYCLE REGISTRATION PROGRAM HAS ALSO INCREASED POSITIVE PUBLIC CONTACT. THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BY INCREASING POLICE SALARIES, WOULD REDUCE OFFICER TEMPTATION TO BRIBERY AND REDUCE MOONLIGHTING. IT MIGHT ALSO ATTRACT NEW RECRUITS. IN ADDITION, THE STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO MAKE INTEPRETERS AVAILABLE AND FORM EASILY UNDERSTOOD LEGISLATION. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE RESEARCH STUDIES AIMED AT INCREASING CONTACT BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC, ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER TO DEAL WITH JUVENILES, AND TRAIN ALL POLICE TO DEAL COURTEOUSLY WITH THE PUBLIC. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.