NCJ Number
111729
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 32-36
Date Published
1988
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Inglewood Narcotics Task Force (NTF) (California), which operated from May through August 1986, succeeded in significantly reducing robberies in targeted districts through aggressive drug enforcement that removed drug dealers and users from the streets.
Abstract
Based upon a review of relevant research, the Inglewood Police Department hypothesized that an aggressive drug law enforcement effort would not only reduce drug trafficking but the criminal activities of drug users seeking to obtain money for drug purchases. Three NTF teams were assigned to three neighborhoods which measured high drug activity. Team activities were flexible and included uniformed footbeats, undercover arrests, surveillance, and highly visible selective enforcement of both drug sellers and buyers on the streets. The project documented a substantial decrease in robberies not only during task force operations but for up to 9 months after project termination. Regarding cost, the task force used existing personnel supplemented with overtime personnel. Salary expenses, including overtime and court costs, were far less than the potentially lost property of potential robbery victims, as measured by the decrease in street robberies and stolen property recovered through search warrants. 3 footnotes.