NCJ Number
50830
Date Published
1978
Length
399 pages
Annotation
METHODS OF POLICE MANAGEMENT AND THE WAYS IN WHICH POLICE ORGANIZATIONS MEET THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING BRITISH SOCIETY ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
DEVELOPMENTS IN BRITISH POLICING SINCE 1285, WHEN THE POLICING SYSTEM WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED BY STATUTE, ARE REVIEWED, AND TRENDS AFFECTING POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE GROWTH OF TERRORISM, ARE NOTED. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AUTHORITIES AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IS COMPARED TO SIMILAR RELATIONSHIPS IN FRANCE, WEST GERMANY, AND THE UNITED STATES. A CHAPTER ON POLICE ORGANIZATIONS EXAMINES ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND THE STRUCTURES OF THE BRITISH POLICE ORGANIZATION AND THE LOS ANGELES, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND DISCUSSES THE PLACE OF THE SPECIAL POLICE FORCE WITHIN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES. SOCIAL CHANGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICE OBJECTIVES AND POLICE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, CRIME PREVENTION, TRAFFIC CONTROL, AND PUBLIC SERVICE ARE EXAMINED. FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF METHODS OF MEASURING MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS AND POLICE ACTIVITY, POLICE METHODS ARE EVALUATED. MOST BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS ADAPT TO CHANGE BY INTRODUCING NEW SPECIALIST DEPARTMENTS WHICH TEND TO BE SELF-PERPETUATING AND ENGENDER EVEN MORE SPECIALIZED SUBGROUPS. THE NATURE, FUNCTIONS, AND EFFECTS OF SPECIALIST DEPARTMENTS ARE DESCRIBED. A CHAPTER WHICH EXPLORES THE EFFECTIVE USE OF MANPOWER AND TECHNOLOGY FOR POLICE WORK INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF EFFICIENT PROCEDURES, BUILDING DESIGNS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS. PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING SUCH ISSUES AS RECRUITING, POLICY, RECORDS MAINTENANCE, TRAINING AND MANPOWER PLANNING, IS EXAMINED IN TERMS OF FUNCTION AND CHANGE. THE FINAL CHAPTERS OF THE TEXT DEAL WITH MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS, PERSONAL ASSESSMENT AND PROMOTION, PERSONNEL INTERVIEWS, EMPLOYEE WELFARE, DECISIONMAKING AND LEADERSHIP FUNCTIONS, DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY, AND COMMUNICATION. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)