NCJ Number
113604
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1988) Pages: 244-258
Date Published
1988
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Legislation passed in 1985 requires British Police to obtain citizens' views regarding the policing of their communities and elicit cooperation from citizens in preventing crime. This study examines how 10 rural police forces implemented Section 106 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, 1984.
Abstract
Questionnaires were sent to the rural police forces asking how they consulted with and obtained cooperation from the public in preventing crime. Three different groups are studied: Police Liaison Groups (PLC's), Crime Prevention Panels (CPP's), and other ad hoc groups (Others). Most of the 10 rural police forces met with several groups in each of the 3 categories many times. Forces lacking manpower to police large areas depended on informal consultations rather than on formal meetings. Many of the police forces reported poor public attendance at meetings. However, public response to the establishment of Neighborhood Watch groups was enthusiastic. The study draws several conclusions, among them the observation that the public remains apathetic to formal consultations with police leadership. Police commanders, on the other hand, view community consultations as a permanent feature of police management training. While PLC's do not achieve the aims intended for them by the enabling legislation, they do carry out a useful function by improving relations between the police and the public. Appendix. 4 footnotes. Tables.