NCJ Number
176384
Date Published
1996
Length
39 pages
Annotation
this report presents the findings of a British national study of the extent and nature of cross-border crime and the current police response to it.
Abstract
Consultants undertook a detailed paperwork review in three English police forces. Each of these forces had centralized traffic sections. A framework for conducting paperwork reviews was developed during the study, and this was subsequently applied to three traffic departments; this framework is described in detail in this guide. A number of ways to reduce paperwork were identified. One option recommended is the use of pre-printed witness statements with blank spaces for completion by the officer. It was estimated this would save 700 hours annually for any group of 100 traffic constables. Another finding is that the processing of speeding offenses can be addressed with either a fixed penalty notice (FPN) or by a court summons. If persons cited comply with an FPN, the costs of processing an offense are considerably lower than with the issuing of a summons; however, failing to comply with a FPN would require an officer to complete an offense report, thus increasing the overall time required to deal with an incident. Thus, where compliance rates are high, consideration should be given to using FPN's. Also, by combining the driver document production request (HO/RT1) with other frequently issued offense reports [FPN's and Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (VDRS)], time would be saved by preventing the duplication of identical information required for each form. Other suggestions from this study are the elimination of the requirement for both reports and statistical returns on accidents and reallocating/simplifying the process for "driver document" (license) offenses. 6 references and appended outline of study forces, forms in use by traffic officers, and example proforma witness statements