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COMMUNITY RELATIONS - AN INITIAL APPRAISAL OF POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN AN INCREASINGLY TURBULENT SOCIETY, WITH REFERENCE TO COMMUNITY POLICING, POLICE TRAINING, COMMUNICATION AND SPECIALIZED DEPARTMENTS

NCJ Number
57195
Author(s)
E M ASHTON
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
INCREASED RACIAL TENSIONS IN ENGLAND POINT UP THE NEED FOR BETTER TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS, A RETURN TO THE OFFICER WHO WALKS THE BEAT, AND CLOSER LIAISON BETWEEN SPECIALIZED COMMUNITY-RELATIONS OFFICERS AND PATROLMEN.
Abstract
THE BREAKDOWN IN POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS HAS BEEN A GRADUAL PROCESS. TRAINING COURSES IN MINORITY GROUP RELATIONS HAVE FAILED TO GIVE NEW POLICE OFFICERS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE BACKGROUND OF THE VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS WHICH HAVE MOVED TO ENGLAND. NEW TOWNS HAVE THROWN TOGETHER A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE AND THE RESULTING MIX IS DIFFICULT FOR EVEN EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS TO HANDLE. THE GROWING USE OF THE PATROL CAR HAS ISOLATED THE OFFICER FROM THE COMMUNITY. SPECIALIZED COMMUNITY-RELATIONS OFFICERS ARE OFTEN ISOLATED FROM THE POLICEMAN ON THE BEAT, WHO IS THE FIRST PERSON TO HANDLE A DIFFICULT SITUATION. THE BASILDON POLICE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT UNIT, SET UP IN 1974 TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS IN A NEW TOWN AREA, HAS FOCUSED ON HELPING WITH THE SOCIAL EDUCATION OF ALL YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY, ON HELPING PATROL OFFICERS PROJECT A FAVORABLE IMAGE TO ALL AGE GROUPS, AND ON STIMULATING PARTICIPATION OF RESIDENTS IN CRIME-CONTROL PROGRAMS. MORE SUCH EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO INCREASE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ON THE PART OF THE POLICE AND TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEE POLICE OFFICERS AS INDIVIDUALS WITH A SOCIALLY IMPORTANT JOB TO DO. EVERY EFFORT ALSO SHOULD BE MADE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOOT OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY IN IMMIGRANT AREAS, NEW TOWNS, AND IN AREAS WHERE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE STRAINED. (GLR)