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BEHIND THE RIOT SHIELDS - A HORNET'S NEST?

NCJ Number
50237
Journal
Police Volume: 10 Issue: 11 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 34-36,38
Author(s)
J ALDERSON
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE IMPACT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON THE ENGLISH POLICE, POLICE METHODS, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE POLICE, AND THE PUBLIC IMAGE AND REPUTATION OF THE POLICE ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE POLICE NATIONAL COMPUTER IN ENGLAND REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE AVAILABILITY OF VEHICULAR AND CRIMINAL INFORMATION TO POLICE PERSONNEL. ALTHOUGH POLICE MAY BE SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF RESPONSE TIMES AND THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HANDLED, THE QUALITY OF HUMAN INTERACTION AND UNDERSTANDING CONCEIVABLY CAN CREATE A GULF BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC. IN THEIR NECESSARILY AUTHORITARIAN ROLE AS CONTROLLERS OF PUBLIC DISORDERS, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE POLICE WILL HAVE GREATER CONFIDENCE AND FEEL LESS THREATENED BY A HOSTILE PUBLIC AND THAT THE PUBLIC WILL VIEW THE POLICE IN THEIR TOTAL ROLE WITH GREATER UNDERSTANDING IF THE POLICE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GUIDE AND BEFRIEND THE PUBLIC ON A DAILY BASIS. TRADITIONAL STRENGTHS OF THE POLICE IN THEIR LOCAL LOYALTIES AND ATTACHMENTS ARE EMPHASIZED, ALONG WITH THE CONCEPT THAT THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY ARE INDIVISIBLE. THE ENGLISH POLICE SYSTEM IS COMPARED TO THOSE OF EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. POWER STRUGGLES INHERENT IN POLICE ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS AND THE ROLE AND CONDUCT OF THE POLICE IN THE EVENT OF PUBLIC PROTESTS ARE ADDRESSED. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY POLICE IN DEALING WITH RIOTS, STRIKES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TERRORISM IN THE 1970'S ARE NOTED. SEVEN SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED TO MINIMIZE POLITICAL AND SECTARIAN STREET VIOLENCE AND CIVIL DISORDERS: (1) CAMPAIGNS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE CONDUCTED; (2) LEADERS OF PUBLIC OPINION SHOULD SPEAK OUT; (3) UNDUE VIOLENCE BY THE POLICE SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED; (4) POLICE MANPOWER RESOURCES SHOULD BE INCREASED; (5) ASSAULTS ON UNARMED POLICE SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF CONDIGN PUNISHMENT; (6) CREATION OF BIGGER POLICE FORCES SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED; AND (7) POLICE SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO USE FORCE TO RESOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS. (DEP)