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POLICE ADMINISTRATION - THE RESPONSE TO CHANGE

NCJ Number
65268
Journal
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 285-299
Author(s)
R W WHITROD
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY EVIDENT TO POLICE ADMINISTRATORS IN AUSTRALIA THAT THE TRADITIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATION IS HAVING DIFFICULTY COPING WITH A CHANGING SOCIETY.
Abstract
THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF AUSTRALIAN POLICE FORCES IS BASED ON THE QUASI-MILITARY PATTERNS ESTABLISHED BY THE LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE. THIS PATTERN PROVED WORKABLE WHILE COMMUNITY VALUES, ATTITUDES, AND ASPIRATIONS REMAINED STATIC. HOWEVER, RAPIDLY ACCELERATING RATES OF CHANGE IN SOCIETY DEMAND CONSIDERABLE FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY FROM ALL SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS. AMERICA HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE TRADITIONAL POLICE BUREAUCRACY WITH A MORE FLEXIBLE, PARTICIPATORY, SCIENCE-BASED STRUCTURE, YET CHANGES IN POLICE STRUCTURE ARE SLOW, PARTLY DUE TO BUREAUCRATIC RESISTANCE TO CHANGE. IN AUSTRALIA, COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE ARE USUALLY CAREER APPOINTEES WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ADMINISTRATIVE PRINCIPLES. MINISTERIAL HEADS ALSO ARE NOT COMMITTED TO INNOVATE OUTSIDE PRESSURES. A COMMISSIONER WHO ELECTS TO BE AN INNOVATOR NEEDS STRONG BACKING FROM HIS MINISTER AND ORGANIZATION, THE SUPPORT OF INFLUENTIAL COMMUNITY VOICES, A REASONABLY LONG TENURE OF OFFICE AND ADEQUATE FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS. THE POLICE UNION CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT INNOVATIONS. ACTIONS THAT WOULD ENABLE AUSTRALIA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO BETTER PREVENT CRIME AND BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO A CHANGING SOCIETY INCLUDE: ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL FORUM OF SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS TO ALLOW THEIR VIEWS TO BE HEARD; PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONCERNED CITIZENS TO BE INFORMED AND INVOLVED IN CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE; AND CONSIDERING THE FEASIBILITY OF DUPLICATING THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AGENCIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED - MJW)