Task Force: The First Year
| Author | J. W. Carroll |
| Published date | 01 October 1970 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X7004301012 |
| Date | 01 October 1970 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
SUPERINTENDENT
J.
W.
CARROLL
Liverpool and Bootie Constabulary
TASK
FORfJE:
THE
FIRST
YEAR
Early in 1969, the continuing rise in the crime rate and the high
incidence of vandalism and disorder was causing the Chief Constable
of Liverpool and BootIe the utmost concern.
It
was obvious
that
an
effective increase in the strength of the force was unlikely to occur
within the foreseeable future, and with this in mind serious considera-
tion was given to the deployment of the existing police nersonnel to
the best advantage. As a result, on May, 27 1969, a new operational
formation was created: the "Task Force".
In its first year, the sixty-eight strong Liverpool and BootIe
Constabulary Task Force was responsible
Jor
the arrest of 1,804
persons for scheduled offences and 4,063 persons for non-scheduled
offences; 1,203 criminal offences were taken into consideration.
These figures illustrate the volume of work that can be attained by
the use of a technique which allows police officers to concentrate on
crime and public order.
Organisation
Personnel drawn from the Criminal Investigation Department,
Traffic and Territorial Divisions provide an establishment of:
ISuperintendent
2Uniform {
IC.I.D. . Inspectors
6Uniform fSergeants
2C.LD.
48 Uniform }Constables
2C.LD. '
6Uniform W.P. Constables
The force is divided into two equal units, performing duties 10.0
a.m. to 6.0 p.m. and 6.0 p.m. to 2.0 a.m. alternately. Each unit is
supervised by an inspector and is sub-divided into three sections.
A section consists of one sergeant, eight male constables and one
woman police officer. (It is interesting to note that in June, 1830, the
Metropolitan Police had a sectional strength of one sergeant and
nine constables and it is apparent that 140 years later this strength
still proves to be the ideal section). A C.LD. sergeant and constable
are assigned to each unit. The superintendent and inspector C.I.D.
have an overall responsibility between the hours of 10.0 a.m. and
2.0 a.m.
Each section is allocated a Land Rover with wireless communi-
cations to the Police Information Room and the Divisional Commu-
nications Room. A private Mini saloon is used for enquiries and
October 1970 321
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