Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
decades, although not always under the Safe City rubic, to provide better solutions
to the age-old problem of crime. Six in particular stand out.
12511
Increased Police Visibility
The addition of more foot patrols in high crime and central city areas seem to have
drastically reduced crimes (Sherman and Weisburd
1995
), although even more reg-
ular car patrols may also help. They deter people from criminal actions since they
might be observed, and also increase public confidence in the effectiveness of polic-
ing, especially if the same officers are used, so that the residents get to know the in-
dividual police and vice versa (Eck and Weisburd
1995
). Since most of the victims
in high crime areas, or those scared of being attacked, are the local residents, it is
in their interest to help the police, although it must be recognized that previous po-
lice harassment, bullying, racist attitudes or even corruption, make many residents
scared of co-operation. So such problems in the police must be eradicated. The
addition of community wardens, such as in the U.K. has also been used to provide
more police presence, creating 'eyes on the street', and may increase public-police
interaction, although their limited powers mean that they are often ignored by those
with high crime propensities. Neighbourhood policing, especially in ethnic and im-
migrant areas, has also been increased, so the police and public get to know one
another and help each other's efforts to reduce crime. More controversial has been
the development of local volunteer patrols, especially in low density and rural areas
where the police rarely have the resources to visit, in order to add surveillance and
interaction within the community. Their limited powers ensure the patrols do not
dispense justice or become a vigilante force—a constant danger—for some have
been known to exceed their mandate. Hence these patrols should be seen as an aid
to public safety, for their presence often provides useful surveillance information
to the police, deters potential criminal or even anti-social behaviour, especially by
bored teens, who often congregate in particular areas. In most cases the teens will
be known to local patrol residents, so inappropriate behaviour can be reported to
parents and the police.
12512
Increasing Sophistication of Staffing, Organizations
The creation of specialised units for specific crimes and for gangs has also been
successful, as has greater co-operation with other police forces to share information
and ideas. More training, the weeding out of unsuitable officers because of racist,
sexist attitudes, or corrupt behaviours has improved many police forces. However a
major breakthrough came from the pioneering CompStat (short for computer statis-
tics) system implemented during William J. Gratton's tenure as Police Chief in New
York from 1994. The success of the approach in New York helped the reclaiming of
many public spaces from criminal activity, in addition to reducing crime in general,
which led to its rapid diffusion around other U.S. police forces, so that over a third
