NCJ Number
92598
Date Published
1982
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study examined the work of the British radio dispatcher to determine the feasibility of modifying the current dispatch system to conserve police resources while maintaining good community relations.
Abstract
The main site for the study was a police subdivision that served about 135,000 residents of a northern city with a population of approximately 300,000. Data were obtained from interviews with dispatchers, their senior officers, and patrol officers; observations of dispatchers on duty; analysis of incident record sheets completed by the dispatchers; and analysis of tape recordings of the 510 calls received during a 7-day period. Interviews were also conducted with 288 people who had called the police dispatcher. The dispatchers have been reasonably successful in balancing the supply of police resources against public demand, largely fulfilling public expectations of the police. Limited achievements have been made, however, in conclusively resolving callers' problems. Planning for change should focus on priorities for responses and the limits of acceptable risk. It should also consider the balance between tangible and psychological assistance and the correct division between the police role and that of other helping agencies. Better public education, improved dispatcher training, and improved communications should produce better allocation of police resources without jeopardizing current achievements.