THE PEEL CONCEPT OF PREVENTIVE PATROL HAS SERVED WELL, BUT THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED FOR A STATIC, PEDESTRIAN, AND AUTHORITARIAN SOCIETY. SOCIAL CHANGES HAVE MADE TRADITIONAL POLICE APPROACHES OBSOLETE. THE FIRST STEP IN SEARCHING FOR NEW APPROACHES TO CRIME CONTROL IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POLICE HAVE OVERSOLD THEMSELVES AS CRIME PREVENTERS. BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICE THEMSELVES MUST COME TO VIEW SUCH ACTIVITIES AS VISITING SCHOOLS, TALKING TO CHILDREN, MIXING WITH POTENTIAL DELINQUENTS, AND TALKING TO GATHERINGS OF ADULTS AS THE ESSENCE OF POLICING. MODERN POLICING MUST ENCOMPASS ACTIVATING THE GOOD AS WELL AS CONTROLLING THE BAD. THE EXETER POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CRIME PREVENTION SUPPORT UNIT SEEKS OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT ANY ACTIVITY LIKELY TO REDUCE CRIME AND CRIMINALITY. THE UNIT IS BUTTRESSED BY THREE OTHER POLICE ACTIVITIES--A POLICE-IN-THE-SCHOOLS PROGRAM, A VICTIM SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES. THE CRIME PREVENTION SUPPORT UNIT EXAMINES CRIME STATISTICS, IDENTIFIES GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE CITY IN WHICH CRIME RATES ARE ESPECIALLY HIGH, AND CALLS PUBLIC MEETINGS IN THOSE AREAS. THE RESULT IS GREATER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION AND IMPROVED COOPERATION AMONG POLICE, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND OTHER AGENCIES. ALTHOUGH NO EXTRAVAGANT CLAIMS ARE BEING MADE FOR THE EXETER CRIME PREVENTION EFFORT, EXETER'S CRIME IS BEING CONTAINED BETTER THAN THAT IN NEIGHBORING AREAS, AND JUVENILE CRIME PATTERNS ARE BEGINNING TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. (LKM)