NCJ Number
169681
Date Published
1996
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The use of data on calls for service by local police officers and managers is discussed, based on the experience of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in Australia.
Abstract
Data on more than 36,000 calls for service to the Toowoomba Division of the QPS were collected from February 1993 through January 1995 as part of an evaluation of a pilot project in beat-area policing. The data were obtained initially from the job cards used by the police and after mid-1994 from the new computerized dispatch system. These data are more comprehensive than crime data because of the analysis they provide of the nature and extent of the demands on police time, as well as the types of problems confronted by police. Analysis of the calls for service can improve the management of police resources, particularly in relation to problem-solving and crime prevention activities. Data analysis can aid the targeting of patrols, enhance police safety by flagging addresses where potential danger exists, aid decisionmaking regarding police resource allocation, and indicate topics on which refresher training is needed. Several strategies can ensure accurate data and timely reports. Figures, tables, and 3 references