NCJ Number
15833
Date Published
1970
Length
208 pages
Annotation
HISTORY, ORGANIZATION, TRAINING AND WEAPONS OF THE WEST GERMAN POLICE, AND THEIR EXPERIENCES IN HANDLING POTENTIALLY VIOLENT CROWDS, EMPHASIZING THE DESIRABILITY OF AVOIDING HOSTILE CONFRONTATIONS.
Abstract
A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS IN THE 1960S INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE - STUDENTS, POLITICAL DEMONSTRATORS AND 'ROCK' CONCERT AUDIENCES - LED MANY TO REGARD THE POLICE AS BRUTAL AND INEFFECTIVE. THE FACT THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF THE OFFICERS ON ALL LEVELS HAD SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES UNDER THE NAZIS TENDED TO REINFORCE THIS VIEW. MILITARIZATION OF THE POLICE WAS FEARED. ACTUALLY, THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ADEQUATE TRAINING IN RIOT CONTROL. THE LEADERSHIP ISSUED ORDERS REFLECTING A 'BATTLEFRONT CONCEPT' OF THE SITUATION, GIVING NO THOUGHT TO THE CITIZEN'S FREEDOM, PROPERTY, AND RIGHTS. THE RESULT WAS CLASHES INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURIES, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND EVEN DEATH. STUDY REVEALED THAT SUCH CROWDS ARE MADE UP OF A SMALL, AGGRESSIVE NUCLEUS (INCLUDING SOME CRIMINALS), A MINORITY OF SYMPATHIZERS, AND A MAJORITY OF CURIOUS PEOPLE. CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN UNIFORMED POLICEMEN SPECIALLY TRAINED FOR THE PURPOSE MINGLED WITH THE CROWDS AND GOT DISCUSSIONS GOING, IT BECAME POSSIBLE TO ISOLATE AND NEUTRALIZE THE TROUBLEMAKERS, AND THE CROWD REMAINED PEACEFUL. HOWEVER, THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT THAT THESE TACTICS WERE ONLY TRIED WITH CROWDS NOT MOTIVATED BY POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES. SEVERAL CROWD-HANDLING INCIDENTS, BOTH THOSE INVOLVING 'BATTLEFRONT CONFRONTATIONS' AND THOSE INVOLVING POLICE INTERMINGLING, ARE DESCRIBED. POLICE RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND WAYS IN WHICH PSYCHOLOGISTS CAN HELP THE POLICE ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. --IN GERMAN