The Police Research and Development Branch
| Date | 01 March 1969 |
| Published date | 01 March 1969 |
| Author | Peter Watts |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6904200303 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
PETER
WATTS
Editor
of
"The Police Research Bulletin"
The work
of
the Police Research and Development Branch at the
Home Office, despite the wide circulation
of
its Bulletin, is still too
little known to the Service. We asked Mr. Watts, therefore, to set out
for our readers some information on its activities.
THE
POLIUE
RESEARUD
AND
DEVELOPMENT
BRANUD
Formation
The Police Research and Planning Branch, as it was then named,
was formed in August, 1963, to plan police methods, develop new
equipment and to study new techniques that would enable the
Police Service to deal effectively with changes in the pattern of
crime and in traffic policing.
The Branch is now under the direction of one of H.M. Inspectors
of Constabulary with a senior principal scientific officer as his
deputy. The staff consists of both scientists and police officers, the
latter joining the Branch usually for a two-year secondment from
their forces. At present, January 1969, there are eight police officers,
mostly of the rank of chief superintendent, 26 scientists and four
technicians. All research projects involve
both
a police officer and a
scientist with the result that experience in the field is coupled with
scientific know-how. In addition, there are two fingerprint specialists,
a specialist in organization and methods and supporting clerical staff.
The Branch is divided into eight main sections dealing with Crime;
Uniform Patrol; Traffic; Human Factors; Command and Control;
Establishments; Equipment; and Theory.
Crime
This section is at present dealing with a number of varied
but
interconnected projects. In the past, it has been responsible for the
study of regional crime squads, unit beat policing and levels of
policing.
One of the main projects now being tackled is that of Detective
Case Loads. In the past, C.LD. establishments have been assessed
in relation to a standard case load of about 150 to 175 recorded
crimes per year per officer. This method has obvious faults, but, so
far, no better one has been demonstrated. The Branch considers
that, in order to arrive at a better assessment of C.LD. establish-
ments, it is first necessary to discover how C.LD. effort should be
allotted to maximize performance as measured by "crime points".
These should take account of the seriousness of the crime from the
March 1969 97
To continue reading
Request your trial