NCJ Number
114129
Date Published
1987
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The concept of community policing offers a means for enhancing police community crime prevention programs.
Abstract
In Western Australia, 57,000 offenses were reported to police in 1977. In 1987, this figure was 153,000, 90 percent of which involved stealing, breaking and entering, and unauthorized use of motor vehicles. Further, 80 percent occurred during daylight hours. The link among these offenses is that most could have been prevented with a little effort. Crime prevention requires the anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of activities to remove or reduce it. Reducing crime opportunities can include improvements in physical, electronic, and procedural security. In Western Australia, a program has been implemented to train police officers in basic crime prevention techniques and in conducting home security appraisals. The success of such efforts will require selling crime prevention to the community. In selling security, crime prevention officers must make their recommendations cost-effective. They must have product knowledge, including advantages and disadvantages. Finally, security recommendations should emphasize convenience and ease of installation. Contacting victims about security precautions following a crime, the availability of crime prevention literature, and media campaigns provide additional means for involving the community in crime prevention. A question-and-answer discussion is included.