NCJ Number
135512
Date Published
1992
Length
186 pages
Annotation
This large-scale study analyzes the relations between the Belgian police and the foreign population and recommends measures for improving relations.
Abstract
For the first part of the study, researchers accompanied police officers in two major Belgian cities on their patrol and questioned them about their relations with foreigners living in Belgium. The researcher soon realized how deeply stereotyping, prejudice, and racial antagonism were ingrained in the officers. The second part of the study solicited information from all Belgian police chiefs concerning problems with police/foreigner relations. The responses indicated a general unawareness of problems; their primary concerns were foreign juvenile delinquency and immigration for pretended political reasons, while problems of daily police interaction were rarely mentioned. A survey of a representative foreign sample population quickly revealed their feelings of fear, distrust, and frustration with the Belgian police. The concluding sections examine Belgian and foreign attempts to help the police deal with foreign populations. The study recommends changes in police recruitment and training, the establishment of a national center for police-immigrant relations, and programs for police outreach to the foreign community. An extensive bibliography and a sample outreach program are appended.