NCJ Number
116232
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This news release from the British Home Office highlights comments by her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Richard Barratt, in his 1987 annual report.
Abstract
Organized national and international terrorism and drug trafficking are major drains on British police manpower and resources. By the end of 1987, police manpower in England and Wales had risen to its highest level (124,102). A slowing of the rate of increase of recorded crime and an improvement of 7 percent in the number of crimes detected are encouraging signs, however. Developments in 1987 are particularly notable in the areas of crime intelligence gathering, analysis, and interpretation; crime pattern analysis; case screening; and an expansion of the use of uniformed officers in crime investigation. The establishment of user boards for each of the forensic laboratories is an important step in establishing senior level liaison. Concern about traffic accidents occasioned by police pursuits has prompted Sir Richard's requesting the collection of statistics on such accidents. The Association of Chief Police Officers has set up a working party to examine police driver training. In his annual report, Sir Richard calls for the preparation of a national strategy plan for police information technology.