NCJ Number
69107
Journal
POLIZEI TECHNIK VERKEHR Dated: (MAY 5, 1977) Pages: 180-183
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
PROGRESSIVE USES OF THE DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM ADOPTED BY THE WEST GERMAN POLICE IN 1972 WITH THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL OFFICE AS THE CENTRAL COORDINATING AUTHORITY ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
PRINCIPAL FUNCTION OF THE SYSTEM IS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SECURITY AND MEANS OF CRIME PREVENTION ON THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL. AUTOMATIC INFORMATION EXCHANGE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY AN INDEPENDENT FOUR-CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK WITH CROSS-CONNECTIONS RENTED FROM THE FEDERAL POST OFFICE. THE SYSTEM PERMITS DIRECT LONG-DISTANCE DIALING AND TELEPHOTO AND FINGERPRINT TRANSMISSION; A SHORT-WAVE TELEGRAPH-RADIO SYSTEM CONNECTS CENTRAL RADIO CONTROLS OF FEDERAL AND STATE POLICE. THE MANHUNT FILE CONTAINS INFORMATION ON ALL WANTED PERSONS, ON FOREIGNERS SOUGHT FOR DEPORTATION, ON STOLEN PASSPORTS AND IDENTIFICATION PAPERS, AND ON STOLEN OBJECTS. THE EVENTUAL GOAL OF THE SYSTEM IS TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT CRIMES AND SUSPECTS, TO EVALUATE CRIMINAL METHODS OF OPERATION, AND TO SATISFY POLICE NEEDS FOR STATISTICS. A SIMILAR SPECIAL FILE EXISTS FOR FINGERPRINT INFORMATION. A SYSTEM FOR LOCATING PATROL CARS MAKES IT EASY TO PLAN DEPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL POLICE UNITS. TRAFFIC PLANNING IS FACILITATED BY DETECTORS PLACED AT STREET CORNERS TO RECORD DATA FOR COMPUTER ANALYSIS. AUTOMATIC WARNINGS ARE TRANSMITTED TO STEER MOTORISTS AWAY FROM TROUBLE SPOTS AND THUS INCREASE TRAFFIC FLOW EFFICIENCY. THE EMERGENCY CALL-SYSTEM CUTS DOWN ON TRAFFIC FATALITIES BY REDUCING THE TIME NEEDED TO REGISTER AND TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CALLS. FINALLY, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIVATE BURGLAR SECURITY SYSTEMS IN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND MUSEUMS HAS BEEN GREATLY ENHANCED BY ALARM SYSTEMS CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE. --IN GERMAN.