NCJ Number
126615
Journal
Policing Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1990) Pages: 469-481
Date Published
1990
Length
13 pages
Annotation
In Great Britain, policing on the national level, at force headquarters, and at special investigative facilities have taken computer developments in stride, yet the uniformed officers based at division have very little contact with computers. Two reasons for this gap are the human element that goes into policing and the difficulties of producing computer hardware and software that would conform to service requirements.
Abstract
For example, the patrol function fulfills a variety of duties, presents difficulties in terms of organization and management, and contains a large human element, all of which probably direct computer experts to focus on the more tangible areas of policing. However, a series of pocket computers could assist patrol officers in recording a large amount of information used in crime investigations and prevention. Information stored in pocket computers could be transferred to large systems quite easily. Some of the components of this transfer process would be enquiry, entry, diary, and briefing. Establishment of this type of computer system would achieve a more directed patrol force and develop more considered and long-term crime prevention strategies. 1 table, 1 note, and 6 references