NCJ Number
72899
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1980) Pages: 30-36
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Development of British policing during the last 20 years suggests that the recent spontaneous development of community policing systems throughout the country is society's attempt to change a policing style out of step with society's needs.
Abstract
A strong feature in British policing over the last 20 years has been a more centralized command which has eliminated many distinguished police forces with strong traditions and community affiliations. The new, larger police forces lack such community ties and have alienated local government. Similarly, Unit Beat (UB) policing, introduced in 1967, has replaced traditional foot patrol. UB uses manpower more efficiently by employing car patrols but inhibits police citizen contact. Moreover, inadequate police salaries have led to a decrease in experienced manpower in a time of great social trouble. Also, as crime has increased, additional bureaucracies have been instituted, further alienating the public without alleviating the manpower shortage. Therefore, to give police greater visibility and accessibility, neighborhood policing units have been set up, which focus on crime prevention and community action rather than merely react to crime, seek to reduce bureaucracy, and give greater responsibility to the local patrolman. Constables are assigned permanently to neighborhoods, are responsible for a variety of police work, and are encouraged to become involved in peoples' lives. Neighborhood policy experiments have been successful in reducing crime in Coventry. Nine notes are included.