NCJ Number
49805
Date Published
1975
Length
28 pages
Annotation
POLICE FORCE CRIME PREVENTION RESPONSIBILITIES, PUBLIC SERVICE AND PUBLICE RELATIONS ACTIVITIES, AND CRIME PREVENTION PLANNING DUTIES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON THE ROLE OF POLICE IN CRIME PREVENTION AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO 28 MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION. REPLIES WERE RECEIVED FROM 15 COUNTRIES, AND ALL RESPONDENTS STATED THAT PREVENTION WAS ONE OF THE TASKS ASSIGNED TO POLICE. THE QUESTIONNAIRE CONCENTRATED ON THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF CRIME: UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH AVIATION, ACTS OF TERRORISM, HOSTAGE TAKING, SYNDICATED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, THEFT, DRUG TRAFFIC, ECONOMIC CRIMES, AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF COUNTRIES REPORTED UTILIZING SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO FORECAST CRIME PATTERNS. POLICE CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES ENCOMPASSED CRIME DETECTION AND INVESTIGATION, GENERAL AND SPECIAL PATROLLING AND SURVEILLANCE, APPLYING ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES FOR CRIME PREVENTION, CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TOWARD PERSONS LIABLE TO BECOME FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS OR RECIDIVISTS, AND CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TOWARD POTENTIAL VICTIMS. THE QUESTIONNAIRE DID NOT INCLUDE ANY ITEMS ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ORGANIZING AND CONDUCTING CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, BUT SOME COUNTRIES DID RESPOND ON THE SUBJECT. OF THE 15 COUNTRIES, 7 REPORTED THAT THEY HAD NOT UNDERTAKEN ANY EFFORTS TO ASSESS THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF THEIR CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. POLICE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC AND ESTABLISH CLOSER CONTACT BETWEEN POLICE AND THE PUBLIC FOCUSED ON GENERAL ASSISTANCE, POLICE PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS, POLICE/PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION, AND POLICE SOCIAL WORK. CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY POLICE STAFF IS DISCUSSED, AND PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING POLICE ACTIVITIES ARE ASSESSED. (DEP)