The British answer to the growing crime rate has been increased law enforcement efficiency through technological and administrative measures geared to combatting professional crime types. Less spectacular, every-day criminality, which is the cause of public fear of crime and requires neighborhood patrol work and personal contact of officers and citizens, is inadequately pursued. The law enforcement function is being emphasized at the cost of police community service responsibilities and giving rise to citizen dissatisfaction. Also, the debate between proactive and reactive police approaches is causing intradepartmental discord among officers, and prevention programs at the local level are not being advanced. A solution should be sought from the example of Leeds and Cornwall, where a preventive police force has been developed. Patrol officers have returned to neighborhood beats and police efforts are being coordinated with other agencies and community organizations. In addition, cooperation between researchers and the police is being carried out by the Cranfield Institute, with particular emphasis on preventive strategies emerging locally, elsewhere in the country, or internationally. Footnotes are provided.