NCJ Number
79004
Journal
Police Journal South Australia Volume: 61 Issue: 5 Dated: (March 1980) Pages: 26-27,29,31,33
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This Australian paper examines the future role of the police in terms of technological advancements that will be made.
Abstract
Police officers' main roles, those of protecting lives and property, maintaining law and order, and preventing crime, will remain unchanged in the future. However, changes in technology and Government policies will affect the 21st-century officer. In the area of communications, computerized phones and other advancements will eliminate time consuming processes and will create more mobile, efficient officers. Training programs will have to be established to educate officers in the use of new equipment, and other educational programs will deal with such social problems as racial discrimination. Specialized police departments will be developed around the world, and reforms will be made in personnel practices (i.e., younger officers will advance to top ranking positions). In the future, data collection and recording will be computerized, and the performance and design of police vehicles will be improved. Weapons will be more powerful and more suited to modern uses, and police programs will be geared toward understanding the communities served and developing better interpersonal social skills. No references are provided.