Recent Book: The Principle Object to Be Obtained: “Crime Prevention through Physical Security”
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X7905200327 |
| Date | 01 July 1979 |
| Published date | 01 July 1979 |
| Author | Cranham |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
in this very interesting volume. The book
is one of a major new series aimed at
Police officers of different rank and
need. This one appears to be directed
towards junior and middle management.
The book is not designed as a major
theoretical study. The approach adopted
by
Mr.
Bunyard
is a practical
managerial one, concerned, I feel, with
how basic concepts can be applied to
Police organisations. Among the topics
covered are the development of the
British Police; Police and government:
Police organisations, methods and
manpower requirements. These are
followed later in the book by several
chapters designed to make managers
more aware of the skills required to
improve performance at work. This
reviewer found it particularly interesting
to read the views ofa ChiefConstable on
constitutional
matters;
statutory
arrangements for control of the Police,
Police establishments and objectives.
Mr.
Bunyard sets out
the
arrangements clearly for the newcomer.
The comparative material from many
countries makes for very interesting and
useful reading.
The later chapters on Training,
Personal
Assessment,
Interviews,
Decision making, Leadership and
Delegation, contain little that is
remarkable. But all are presented in the
same sensible, practical way, designed to
make individuals think about their
performance.
This is a stimulating and coherent
introduction to many topics essential for
the effective manager. I think it will be
valuable to junior and middle managers
in the Service. The student of Police
organisations will· find it a valuable
source of information.
If
there are more
books like this to emerge from the series,
then success seems likely. M.W.
THE PRINCIPLE OBJECT TO BE OBTAINED
W
ALTER
M.
STROBL:
"Crime Prevention Through Physical Security"
Marcel Dekker 85 Swiss Francs
"It
is a sad reflection on our society
that while on the one hand Courts are
encouraged to find ways of keeping
burglars and robbers out of prison,
innocent citizens are persuaded to lock
themselves in their homes and offices to
avoid attack by the very criminals for
which so much concern is expressed.
There are even suggestions that victims
of crime should be hauled before the
Bench if they have failed to protect
themselves! Perhaps it won't be long
before thieves will be compensated if they
fail to find as much loot as they had
expected, but whatever the future may
hold, there is no doubt that security is
very topical especially in the United
States of America where the number of
books on the subject seems to be endless.
The
author
of this particular book is a
retired U.S. Army Officer and the
President of a security company in
Memphis. He is a member of several
national committees on security, safety
and crime prevention and the book is
sprinkled with anecdotes from his
experience. I found it an interesting
volume which,
apart
from providing the
student of security with valuable facts,
opens a window on the crime situationin
the U.S.A. The chapters on the security
of hospitals and schools are particularly
enlightening where apparently quite
elaborate measures are considered
essential.
In the United Kingdom there is talk of
"security legislation" which will allow
employers to vet potential employees
July 1979
through Criminal records Offices and
Mr. Strobl also comments on the subject
in a chapter on personnel where he
mentions
that
since
1976
the
fingerprinting of new security industry
employees has been required. Elsewhere
he writes of "relations with local police"
providing access to National Crime
Information Centre files (NCIC). in the
'hardware' section, there are described a
number of devices not readily obtainable
in this country, including a lock-picking
gun apparently widely used by police
departments to gain entry to buildings in
emergencies or during investigations!
(N0doubt some entrepreneur willimport
them soon for professional criminals to
use instead of conventional jemmies).
Also described is an inflatable air lock to
seal the opening between a railway
wagon and a loading
door
and this may
be adapted to advantage. Might they not
be used to prevent pavement robberies
between security vans and banks? These
and many other items are fully described
and illustrated in a number of plates and
line drawings throughout the book.
Atopical section deals with preventing
strike related sabotage and violence. Mr.
Strobl suggests that guards should not be
armed
with
firearms
in
these
circumstances, but they should be
provided with a baton or night stick with
which to defend themselves! Guard dogs
are to be avoided too but changing the
locks of doors and gates used by striking
workers is suggested as a good ploy 'and
the recovery of keys issued to employees
303
To continue reading
Request your trial