THREE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOLS TOOK PART IN THE INVESTIGATION: THE MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING SCHOOLS IN AMSTERDAM AND LOCHEM, AND THE NATIONAL POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN APELDOORN. IN ORDER TO INCLUDE RELEVANT GROUPS IN THE PROJECT, A STEERING COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF THOSE IN THE FIELD AND IN POLICYMAKING BODIES WAS SET UP. AN OBSERVATION STUDY WAS MADE OF POLICE PATROLS IN A BIG CITY, A MEDIUM-SIZED MUNICIPALITY, AND TWO NATIONAL POLICE RURAL DISTRICTS. TWO PROJECTS WERE CARRIED OUT. THE FIRST WAS CONDUCTED AMONG CITIZENS TO ASCERTAIN HOW THEY ASSESSED THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE POLICE. THE SECOND WAS AMONG OFFICIALS (BURGOMASTERS, CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, AND HEADS OF POLICE FORCES). THE PUBLIC WAS SURVEYED BY QUESTIONNAIRE; OFFICIALS WERE INTERVIEWED. FINALLY, QUESTIONS WERE PUT TO POLICE OFFICERS PRIOR TO TRAINING, UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING, AND AFTER THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE FORCE FOR 8 MONTHS. PRONOUNCED DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND BETWEEN THE IMAGE AND THE REALITY OF POLICE WORK. THE PUBLIC WAS SATISFIED WITH POLICE CONDUCT IN MOST SITUATIONS BUT IRRITATED WITH POLICE FAILURE TO RESPOND IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. BOTH POLICE TRAINEES AND EXPERIENCED STAFF WANTED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICAL WORK DURING TRAINING. CHANGES ARE RECOMMENDED IN PRIMARY POLICE TRAINING WITH RESPECT TO THE TRAINING SCHOOL CURRICULUM, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TRAINING COURSE, THE TRANSITION FROM TRAINING TO SERVICE, AND ENTRY TO THE POLICE SERVICE. THE LIST OF REPORTS ON WHICH THE FINAL REPORT IS BASED IS GIVEN. A FEW REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MFE)