NCJ Number
61643
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 32-34
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
STARTED IN THE NETHERLANDS IN 1975, AN EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED IN THE MUNICIPAL POLICE ORGANIZATION OF THE HAGUE TO INVESTIGATE THE PRECINCT OFFICER'S ROLE AS PUBLIC ASSISTANT RATHER THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
Abstract
RECENTLY, POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO INTERVENE IN CITIZENS' PSYCHO-SOCIAL PROBLEMS, INVOLVING VARIOUS CRISES IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, OR NEIGHBORS. PRECINCT OFFICERS (POS) WERE ESTABLISHED TO HANDLE PSYCHO-SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF RESIDENTS OF THE HAGUE. THEIR TASKS INCLUDE RENDERING ASSISTANCE AND MAKING REFERRALS TO SPECALIAL AGENCIES SUCH AS HEALTH CLINICS AND WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS; PROMOTING HEALTHFUL HOUSING AND LIVING CONDITIONS BY MAINTAINING THE PEACE; KEEPING ABREAST OF CRIME, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN THEIR AREAS; PROMOTING SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY INTEGRATION IN THEIR AREAS; AND ATTENDING PUBLIC MEETINGS RELATED TO SOCIAL SERVICES OR COMMUNITY WELFARE. POS SUPPLEMENT BUT DO NOT REPLACE REGULAR POLICE IN CRIME SUPPRESSION. THEY WERE INTRODCED TO THE HAGUE IN 1968, AND A MID-1978 QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO HAGUE RESIDENTS REVEALS THAT POS USUALLY HANDLE DISTURBANCES BETWEEN NEIGHBORS AND WITHIN FAMILIES. CITIZENS MOST OFTEN LEARN OF POS THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THESE OFFICERS AND THEIR SERVICES. POS, HOWEVER, NEED FURTHER TRAINING AND IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. FURTHER STUDIES OF POS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE SUGGESTED. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)