Don't talk about crime, police are told... it might scare the public!

Police officers were once seen as reassuring figures, like the fatherly Dixon of Dock Green.

Now it seems they are more likely to have a quite different effect - so much so that officers have been told not to talk about crime in case they frighten the public.

Home Office officials say discussing crime rates may make it less likely that the public will think officers are doing a good job. And that will make it harder for forces to hit the Government's target for increasing public confidence in the police.
Dixon of Dock Green,


Fatherly: Police officers were once seen as reassuring characters like TV copper Dixon of Dock Green, played by Jack Warner

As a result, they are told to keep quiet at community meetings. Last night, officers dismissed the instruction as 'ridiculous'.

The Home Office research report says that when officers highlight crime and anti-social behaviour problems at community meetings it can lead to ' feelings of fear' among the public.

Public confidence in the police - currently standing at 49 per cent - needs to be boosted to 60 per cent by 2012 to meet a Home Office target.

But the study says that to achieve this target police officers need to 'avoid four main pitfalls'. The first is highlighting crime and anti-social behaviour 'too much'.

The report says: 'Dialogue centred on the apparent pervasiveness of crime and insecurity may actually stimulate feelings of threat or fear, and in turn lower opinions of the police. There is also evidence that if people feel increasingly insecure they are likely to blame the police.'

Pitfall two is 'talking down' the police service. The report says police officers were the most likely of all public servants to 'talk negatively' about their job to the public.

Pitfall three is treating community policing as a 'waste of time' and pitfall four is not ensuring diversity in community meetings, which the study says are mainly attended by 'older, white, middle-class citizens'.

Detective Constable Alex Challenor, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: 'I can understand us being told to be careful about what we put on Facebook and things like that, but trying to control what we say to people in the pub is ridiculous.'

The editor of Police Review, Chris Herbert, said: 'It is hard to know whether it is depressing or funny.'

Last night a Home Office spokesman said: 'It is a core duty of the police to discuss crime with their local communities and there is no suggestion that the Government is telling them they should not.

'This research is a tool, not an order, and shows that there is a balance to be found in how police communicate with their communities to build public confidence and tackle crime.'


Source: Mail Online.co.uk, Jan 08 2010
By : Daily Mail Reporter

Views: 142

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

Three Must See Movies for Halloween

Grab Your Popcorn and Settle In!  If you really want to get in the mood for Halloween and you like…See More
6 hours ago
Bob of the Family Renner posted photos
9 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Terror on All Hallows Eve

Chapter IElizabeth was angry. All of her friends were going to be out on Halloween, but her. She…See More
yesterday
Jeff favorited Jeff's profile
Monday
Jeff favorited Jeff's profile
Monday
Jeff favorited Doc Vega's profile
Monday
Jeff is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Sunday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Friday
tjdavis posted a video

How Corporations Are Secretly Poisoning Our Food Supply

Dupont and 3M have been secretly poisoning America for decades. PFAs — also known as forever chemicals—are now in our food, water, clothes, and our blood. Th...
Friday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

They Won’t Stop

 The demonically driven left will not stop. Makes no difference how much violence they call for or…See More
Oct 22
Doc Vega posted a blog post

What US Scientist unwittingly helped the Nazis devise the V-2 Missile?

  In the early 1920’s and leading up to World War II German technology outpaces the peace time…See More
Oct 20
tjdavis favorited Sandy's video
Oct 19
tjdavis posted a photo
Oct 19
Christopher Walker is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Oct 19
tjdavis posted videos
Oct 19
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Reflection

"Let's see if this goes past indictment."
Oct 18
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"cheeki kea That's very interesting history. So many things about history that go ignored or…"
Oct 18
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Oct 18
Burbia posted a video

Programmed To Kill/Satanic Cover-Up Part 433 (The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Show)

https://www.programmedtokill.net/projects---- DISCLAIMER! ----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair u...
Oct 18
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"Yip I've looked again and this is what the creature looks like, even has stripes just like…"
Oct 18

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted