IMAGES OF POLICE WORK AND THE USES OF RULES - SUPERVISION AND PATROLWORK UNDER THE FIXED POINTS SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 29026
• Author(s): M CHATTERTON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 43 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PAPER PRESENTED AT THE THIRD BRISTOL CONFERENCE ON THE SOCIOLOGY OF THE POLICE, 1975.

Annotation

THE FIXED POINTS SYSTEM REQUIRED THE FOOT PATROLMAN TO ARRIVE AT EACH OF HIS FOUR (USUALLY FOUR) CHECKPOINTS IN A CERTAIN ORDER AT A SPECIFIED TIME WHERE HE WAS OFTEN MET BY HIS PATROL SERGEANT.

Abstract

EACH SERGEANT SUPERVISED THREE OR FOUR PATROLMEN. THE BEAT PATROLMEN WERE SUPPLEMENTED BY A MORE AUTONOMOUS, MOTORIZED UNIT (OR UNITS) WHO RESPONDED TO RADIO CALLS, THUS LEAVING THE BEAT PATROLMAN LITTLE MORE TO DO THAN 'FEEL DOOR HANDLES' TO SEE IF THEY WERE LOCKED AND TO REACT TO POLICE SITUATIONS THAT CAME WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS OBSERVATIONS. SERGEANTS' TIME WAS TAKEN UP LARGELY WITH CHECKING UP TO SEE IF PATROLMEN KEPT THEIR SCHEDULED ROUNDS. THE FIXED POINTS SYSTEM HAS SINCE BEEN SUPPLANTED BY THE UNIT-BEAT POLICING SYSTEM (SIMILAR TO AMERICAN TEAM-POLICING) WHICH ELIMINATES THE AUTONOMY OF THE MOTORIZED SUPPORT UNITS AND INCREASES THE INVOLVEMENT OF PATROLMEN AND SERGEANTS IN ALL FACETS OF POLICE WORK WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT.