Commentary
| Published date | 01 November 1965 |
| Date | 01 November 1965 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X6503801101 |
| Subject Matter | Commentary |
Research and Planning
The Home Office Police Research and Planning Branch has now
entered upon its third year. There have, of course, been continuing
processes of research and planning ever since the Service came into
being, processes which have been intensified particularly since the
end of the second world war. As the Royal Commission very
sensibly recommended, the Branch has
not
sought to stifle the
initiative of individual forces in developing new techniques and
employing new equipment but has established a two-way flow of
ideas between itself and chief constables. The Branch works under
the general direction of H.M. Chief Inspector of Constabulary and
this ensures that its conclusions and recommendations are made
available to the Service as a whole.
Sir Edward Dodd's report for 1963 recorded the impressive start
made by the Branch in the field
of
serious and unsolved crime, in
the application of computers to police work, in the policing of
motorways and major routes, and in assessing establishments and
material. H.M. Chief Inspector's report for last year records
very considerable progress. The regional crime squads and criminal
intelligence bureaux were established and have now become fully
operational; the Branch will evaluate their results when they have
been in existence for two years. Fingerprints have so far baffled
the computer experts, but there must surely be a break-through
here; as far as other records are concerned, a study is being made
to determine police requirements. One of the police members
of the Branch was seconded to work with one of H.M. Inspectors
of Constabulary on an inquiry into the lessons to be learned from
the 1963 train robbery, and their report is now being studied with a
view to deciding whether any changes in procedure are necessary
to cope with crimes of such magnitude in future. Recommendations
on security arrangements for the transfer of cash and high-value
packets are being urgently considered.
The Branch has also done a good deal of work on road traffic
problems.
Our
readers will remember the interesting article by
Chief Supt. G. Gates in our August, 1964, issue on the M.6 experi-
ment in unified command. Much data was collected and we hope
shortly to publish an article on the Branch'sfindings. It is interesting
to note that two members of the Branch visited Italy, Holland and
Western Germany to study traffic policing in those countries.
November 1965 499
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