THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOCIAL CONTROL IN ANY SOCIETY IS THAT OF SELF-REGULATION, WHICH IS DERIVED FROM CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND MORAL VALUES IMPARTED THROUGH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. WITH THE FRAGMENTATION OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, MORAL VALUES AND BEHAVIORAL CONDITIONING ARE LESS CLEAR AND STRONG, AND SOCIAL CONTROL THROUGH SELF-REGULATION IS UNDERMINED. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GAP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIOR AS DEFINED IN COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY LAW (LARGELY BASED ON TRADITIONAL MORALITY) TENDS TO WIDEN. POLICE ARE THEN EXPECTED TO DEAL WITH THIS GAP BY INITIATING CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTION TO MODIFY OR CONTROL SUCH BEHAVIOR. AS DEVIANCY AND CRIMINALITY INCREASE WITH THE DECLINE OF SOCIETY'S SELF-REGULATION, THE TENDENCY HAS BEEN FOR POLICE TO ADOPT A MORE PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIALIZED INTERVENTIONIST ROLE, USING THE PRINCIPLES OF SCIENTIFIC BUREAUCRATIC MANAGEMENT. THE BUILDING OF POLICE OPERATIONS AROUND A REACTIVE ROLE HAS NOT ONLY FAILED TO AID THE RESTORATION OF SOCIETY'S SELF-REGULATION BUT HAS OFTEN AGGRAVATED COMMUNITY CONFLICT THROUGH REPRESSIVE ACTIONS. IF POLICE ARE TO SERVE THE ENDS OF STRENGTHENING A COMMUNITY'S SELF-REGULATION, MUCH OF THE POLICE EFFORT MUST BE GEARED TOWARD COOPERATING WITH WHATEVER NUCLEUS OF COMMUNITY SELF-REGULATION MAY EXIST TO EXPAND THE SIZE AND INFLUENCE OF SUCH A NUCLEUS. THE POLICE EFFORT WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN IT IS PART OF AN OVERALL COMMUNITY EFFORT TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS AND VALUES DESIGNED TO PREVENT DEVIANT AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IN BRITISH COMMUNITIES WHERE THE POLICE HAVE SOUGHT SUCH COMMUNITY CONTACT, EFFECTS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTIVE. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)