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ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE CONSTABULARY (FROM URBAN AND RURAL CRIME AND ITS CONTROL IN WEST AFRICA, 1973 - SEE NCJ-64784)

NCJ Number
64787
Author(s)
M DELMAS
Date Published
1973
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE IVORY COAST'S CONSTABULARY, A MILITARY FORCE OPERATING IN RURAL AREAS TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND ENFORCE THE LAW, ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH AN OVERVIEW OF RURAL CRIME.
Abstract
THE CONSTABULARY IS THE ONLY BODY OUTSIDE URBAN AREAS WHICH IS QUALIFIED TO ACT IN THE MATTER OF CRIMES. IT HAS BOTH PREVENTIVE AND REPRESSIVE ROLES AND AIMS AT PROVIDING INVESTIGATIVE, ADMINSTRATIVE, AND MILITARY POLICING OF THE WHOLE TERRITORY. THE CONSTABULARY HAS BOTH DISTRICT UNITS AND MOBILE UNITS GROUPED UNDER ONE COMMAND IN EACH DISTRICT. ITS ROLE IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THAT OF THE URBAN POLICE. MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE THE LARGE SIZE OF THE DISTRICTS AND THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE TO CONTROL. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COMPRISES 43 PERCENT OF CONSTABULARY UNITS' TOTAL ACTIVITIES. ON THE IVORY COAST, AS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THERE ARE LARGE GAPS BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES COMMITTED, THE NUMBER REPORTED, AND THE NUMBER WHICH REACH THE COURTS. REASONS FOR THESE GAPS IN THE IVORY COAST INCLUDE VICTIMS' SHAME, FEAR OF REPRISALS, PRIVATE SETTLEMENT WITH OFFENDERS, USE OF COMMON LAW COURTS, TIME AND TROUBLE INVOLVED IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CONSTABULARY, ETHNIC AND LINGUISTIC DIFFICULTIES, CUSTOMS, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, AND INADEQUATE CONSTABULARY PERSONNEL. DATA FROM A SAMPLE DISTRICT AND UNOFFICIAL SURVEYS INDICATE THAT ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF INFRACTIONS RESULT IN A CONVICTION. ALTHOUGH THESE DATA ARE NOT ENTIRELY CORRECT, THEY GIVE AN INDICATION OF THE PHENOMENON OF 'GEARING DOWN' OF CRIME FIGURES. MAPS AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. FROM THE VOLUME OF WHICH THIS ARTICLE IS A PART, SEE NCJ 64784. (CFW)