POLICE AND PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE INCREASE IN CRIME RATES FOR BURGLARY, THEFT, AND VANDALISM PROMPTED THE EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM. IT WAS ENVISIONED THAT THE OFFICE OF CRIME PREVENTION WITHIN THE PORTSMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROJECTS IN THE AREAS OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECURITY, PUBLIC INFORMATION, EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, POLICE PATROL PLANNING, AND CRIME PATTERN STUDIES. A CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER WAS APPOINTED, AND HIS INITIAL EFFORTS FOCUSED ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF MERCHANTS AND CITIZENS. CRIME PREVENTION TIPS AND CRIME REPORTING PROCEDURES WERE AIRED ON A LOCAL RADIO STATION, AND A WEEKLY COLUMN WAS INSTITUTED IN A LOCAL NEWSPAPER. CRIME PREVENTION TOPICS EMPHASIZED IN THE COLUMN WERE CAR THEFT, RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, SHOPLIFTING, RAPE PREVENTION, DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, PICKPOCKETING, AND PURSE SNATCHING. PERSONAL APPEARANCES WERE MADE BY THE CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER TO LECTURE ABOUT BURGLARY AND THEFT PREVENTION, THE PREVENTION OF ASSAULT AND RAPE, SENIOR CITIZEN CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES, DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, AND SHOPLIFTING. AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM WAS 'OPERATION IDENTIFICATION' TO INFORM CITIZENS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING THEIR VALUABLE BELONGINGS. EIGHT SEMINARS WERE HELD ON THE SUBJECT OF SHOPLIFTING TO AID MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES IN AREA BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS. TO HELP COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF ROBBERY, AN IDENTIFICATION CARD FOR DISPLAY IN LOCAL BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS WAS DESIGNED. TWO NEIGHBORHOOD ALERT PROGRAMS WERE FORMED. PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM, SINCE STATISTICS ON ROBBERY, RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES, NONRESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES, AND LARCENY DURING 1977 AND 1978 DEMONSTRATE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE PROGRAM. (DEP)