Police-Newsletter No. 36

15.01.2002

Editorial note:

A HTML version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei–Newsletter.de since November 2001.

All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can order the French version (from November 2001 on) and the English version (from January 2002 on). These versions are published by the 15th of each month. You can also comfortably subscribe or unsubscribe the German version via this homepage .

Contents:

The PISA Study: Failure of German Schools?
Failure of the Secret Services
Stalking Crimes
Modern State - Project Management
Safercity.de
Safecity.tv
Boot Camps and their Specialties
Phenomenology of Serial Murder
Spain’s Electronic Wall
Pepperspray and Health
First Cyber Police Station in India
The Committee P in Belgium
Ring of Cops
Suckers for Climbing

1. The PISA Study

In December 2001, the so–called PISA study for an international comparison in education was published and is available on the OECD web page ( www.pisa.oecd.org ). The national was published under: Deutsches PISA Konsortium (ed.). PISA 2000: Basical competences of pupils in an international comparison. Leske+Budrich.

ISBN 3–8100–3344–8 (DM 49.80).

TF (thanks to Harald Lode).

2. Failure of the Secret Services

The US secret services are considered to be the most powerful in the world. Why were they unable to prevent September 11th, 2001, the Lockerbie assassination, the plot/attempt on the WTC of 1993 and other terrorist attacks? The question can be answered rather simply: the more intensive the electronic supervision is, the more the terrorists (and others, too) rely on personal communication. True, the American NSA Central (National Security Agency) can submit telephone talks of Ussama bin Laden and his mother via satelite; for the critical actions, however, he choose low-tech communication - resulting in a deceptive feeling of security with the secret services. In spite of this the electronic supervisory systems Carnivore and Echelon are further pushed through.As per the U.S. journalist James Bramford can be explained by the fact that the USA use these means and have used them in the past to consolidate their economic power. And indeed, there are proofs that NSA bugged and monitored trade conferences or representatives of private companies. Source: James Bamford, Body of Secrets, Anatomy of the ultra-secret National Security Agency from The Cold War through of the dawn of a new century, New York, 2001 (according to Nicky Hager, Das Ohr an der Welt in: taz/Le Monde Diplomatique November 2001, p.6)

3. Stalking-Crimes

A book titled „Stalking Crimes and Victim Protection“ was published in June. It exclusively deals with this phenomenon which we are aware of today although it is rather old. Various aspects of this problem are illustrated, and especially possibilities of prevention are presented on 488 pages .Author: Joseph A. Davis, editor: CRC Press, US$ 69,95 www.crcpress.com Almost simultaneously the Ministry of Justice published a report titled "Stalking and Domestic Violence: A Report to Congress" (NCJ 186157); available under http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojp/186157.pdf or http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/ojp/186157.tx 1/ojp/186157.txt

4. Modern state?

A booklet with information and useful forms and check lists for project management was published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The booklet “Moderner Staat – Moderne Verwaltung” is a real practice guide, for download under http://www.staat–modern.de/projects/index.html. The brochure can be ordered free of charge under www.staat–modern.de. The home page also gives a survey of laws available online as well as of e–government and the project www.bundonline2005.de

5. Safercity.de

Under www.safercity.de the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Kritischer Polizistinnen und Polizisten (Work Group of Critical Policemen and Police Women http://www.comlink.de/cl-hh/r.borchers/ presents (critical and very critical) „Informationen über die deutsche Sicherheits- und Ordnungspolitik“(Information about the German Security and Order Policy). The well designed, informing and comprehensive home page deals with current security problems as well as topics discussed again and again such as video and telephone monitoring etc. Via the home page of Reinhard Borchers you reach the home page of the journal „Unbequem“: http://www.comlink.de/cl-hh/r.borchers/Unbe.htm

6. Safecity AG

Under www.safecity.tv, however, SafeCity AG, Munich, tries something new in combating crime. Not only information is offered on the web page such as factual searches, missing person advertisements or tips for parents for the protection of their children. In compliance with the idea of interactive medium you can register yourself and then get active or participate in a search. You get current SMS notifications on your mobile phone, notification are accepted by the SafeCity Callcenter and passed on to the police station concerned – this is how it is expected to work. As per SafeCity attractive rewards are waiting to be granted.

7. Boot Camps and their Specialties

A new study of the NIJ compares boot camps (controversially discussed in Germany, too) for a coercive education of juveniles and traditional reformatories. The study does not go into the camps’ success which was presented in earlier studies rather negative. A National Study Combating The Environments of boot camps with Traditional Facilities for Juvenile Offenders, " has 12 pages, compares 27 boot camps with 22 rather traditional facilities and is available under http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/187680.pdf or http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/187680.txt .

A more detailed report on the same study is given in “The Impact of Boot Camps and Traditional Institutions on juvenile Residents: Perceptions, Adjustment, and Change” in “Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 38, 3, 2001, p.279-313. A paper dealing with mental health of juveniles in the criminal justice system and the possibilities of improving their mental health. The paper “OJJDP Mental Health Initiative” consisting of two pages is available under http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/fact.html# fs200130.

8. Phenomenology of Serial Murder

This article discuses the study of motives of serial murderers using the method of empirical phenomenology. Departing from a traditional clinical approach in terms of diagnostic categorizations of serial killers and from a conventional descriptive study in which generic aspects of serial murder such as modus operandi aer described and interpreted, a qualitative approach is presented a s essential to a more comprehensive understanding of the perpetrators of serial murder. Specifically, learning about murderers’ personal constructions of meaning in their own lives positions us to be able to identify the motivations underlying their repeated acts of killing. Results obtained using this approach raise concerns regarding the validity of conclusions drawn from studies that rely upon more traditional methods of inquiry into motive. Source: Candice A. Skrapec, Phenomenology and Serial Murder.

Source: Homicide study, 5, 1, 2001, p.46-63:

9. The Electronic Wall of Spain

Gerhard Piper describes the Spanish efforts to stop the illegal immigration from the sea. Among others a special radar system called SIVE will be applied. It can discover boats of two times six meters at a distance of 10 kilometres. 24 ours a day, a sea area of 5,000 sq km can be surveyed. At a distance of 5 km he object can exactly be identified (e.g. how many people are on board). Within 20 minutes a boat of the Guardia Civil can be there. General contractor for the project is the Spanish electronic company Amper Sistemas (www.amper.es). Source: CILIP, civil rights and Polizei 2, 2001, S.55 62:

10. Pepper spray and health

“Pepper spray endangers health”: Steve Wright critically reviews the results of studies published up to now about the impact on health of this spray the use of which has become more and more common, even in Germany. He especially refers to the 61 deaths in the USA between 1990 and 1995 and a report of the Technological Consequences Estimating Committee of the European Parliament (the so-called STOA Report of May 2000, entitled “An Assessment of Crowd Control Technologies, 6/2000”; http://www.europarl.eu.int/stoa/publi/default_en.htm ) which urged the EU states last year to stop sale, acquisition and use of pepper spray and to wait for further examinations. Such tests have been started in the Netherlands, Great Britain and Sweden. Equally.interesting is the detailed STOA report “New Technologies in defence policy and conflict management: a challenge for the EU” from 5/2001 as well as the report “Instrument of conflict prevention and civilian crisis management available to the European Union”of 3/2001 (all reports as PDF file available from above mentioned home page).

11. First Cyber Police Station in India

As per the news agency Reuters the first police station exclusively tackling “cyber crimes” shall be set up in India. From September 15th on, data theft, hacker attacks and also internet cheatings are transferred to the new institution in Bangalore. The police division which will initially be in charge of cases from Karnataka region, aims at working and clarifying the specific matters in the field of information technology. However, the local police continue to be responsible for the registration of such crimes. The so-called Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) was created last year for the treatment of "information crimes" after the adoption of a special law. This was initiated to cover a wide range of such crimes. The incentive was an “analysing-cell” made up of experts pf IT safety companies and the Indian Institute of Science. Source: c't online new, www.heise.de/ct.

12. The Committee P in Belgium

The Committee P describes itself as “organ for the supervision of the function of police services” and as “mediator to serve parliament and citizens” (www.comitep.be, info@comitep.be). It was founded in 1991 and constituted in 1993. It is charged with the external supervision of all police services and police employees in Belgium. The committee reports to the parliament and formulates suggestions for the improvement of police work and to “Avoid the repeated occurrence of certain annoying incidents for citizen and authorities”. On principle anyone may contact this committee; however, the examinations carried out by the committee do not aim at finding out individual misdemeanours, but to discover“ deficiency and malfunction” and to submit suggestions how to abolish them.

( the German counterpart, the Hamburg police commission, see http://www.hamburg.de/Behoerden/PK/)

13. Ring of Cops

You can join the “Ring of Cops” or supply information under http://www.jungbluth.de/copring.htm.

The ring aims at linking home pages with police relevant contents. You reach the linked pages (28 at present) via the opening page; then click on the categories next to the hand cuffs. There are links to personal police pages and as well to police jokes, police bikers’ clubs, the scene of crime group of the Viennese police or information about police operations in Bosnia. A good idea –a better structure of contents, however, would improve the site. Unfortunately some of the links don’t work or are closed. The provider yahoo may be responsible for this.

We also recommend to have a look at www.cybercops.de (unfortunately it neither works always ....) and www.polizeitrainer.de (with a protected area for members).

14. Suckers for Climbing

Thanks to Gekkomat (www.gekkomat.de) you can climb any (smooth) wall. The device consists of sucker-covered surface where hands and feet are inserted. The sticking surfaces are supervised by a computer and stick to concrete, glass or wood. The device is designed for the fire brigade, police and builders’ labourers. Source: Future character of 2000 x.de, September 2001 (www.2000x.de).

And last ....

Albert Einstein and freedom

Frankly speaking - it is a miracle that modern teaching has not completely strangled the sacred nature of searching yet; this delicate little plant mainly requires freedom beside incentives; without freedom it inevitably perishes. Albert Einstein, 1955 (source: Research & teaching 10, 2001 p. 517:)

Police-Newsletter No. 37

15.02. 2002

Editorial note:

A HTML version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei–Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe and unsubscribe for the German, English and French version. Furthermore the internet versions of the newsletter offer the advantage of simply clicking on the www links.

Survey:

1. Many Links Against Rightists in the Network

2. Documentation concerning the German Anti-Terror Laws

3. 19,2 Billion US$ for Drug Control

4. Realizing Democracy by Reforming the Police

5. Poverty of Children in the Urban Society

6. Website about Police Reform in England

7. New Studies of the British Home Office Concerning Drug Problems

8. Council of Europe and Police Training

9. New Network Against Domestic Violence in the Netherlands

10. Longterm Effects of Psychotherapeutics

11. Empirical Model for Localizing Serial Murderers Tested

12. Perpetrators and Victims under the Swastika

13. European Traffic Policy by 2010

14. Private Municipality Police in Switzerland

The Last (?): Police makes Mobile Phone Thieves go mad by SMS

1. Many Links Against Rightists in the Network

At the first glance it seems to be the conventional home page of a (in this case Jewish) online provider, but it is more: The website www.HaGalil.com concentrates on massive linking (approx. 18,000) and is thus successful against right-wing websites, coming up in search engine when certain terms are entered. The website of HaGalil, the first Jewish Internet portal in Europe, comprises a form, which allows the user to draw the HaGalil lawyers’ attention to right-wing internet sites. If they consider the contents to be a matter of criminal prosecution, they contact the public prosecutor. This is why 50% of the reported cases in 2000 were due top the Initiative of HaGalil. Beside a superb search engine the site offers news in Yiddish and English and a link to the new Jewish Museum in Berlin. (http://www.jmberlin.de/ ). Source: taz (German newspaper) 4.1.02

2. Documentation Concerning the German Anti-Terror Laws

Under http://www.cilip.de/terror/ the editors of „Bürgerrechte und Polizei – Cilip“ submits bills, official statements and other documents (e.g the hearing records). For more information about CILIP and their activities see www.cilip.de.

3. 19.2 Billion US$ for Drug Control

The national US drug control budget for 2002 amounts to a total of 19.2 billion. US$ - as against 17,1 billion. US$ in 1999. Justice will get more than 8 billions. – as against only 0.6 billions for education. Even the Ministry of Defense is allocated 1.1 billion. which is significantly more. Source: National Drug Control Budget, Fiscal Year 2002.

4. Realizing Democracy by Reforming the Police

This is the title of a voluminous study (126 pages) dealing with the possibilities of supporting the democratic development of countries by reforming police structures "Democratizing the Police Abroad-What to Do and How to Do It" also describes the experiences of people engaged in this field and elucidates the significance of these problems for economy. http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/188742.pdf or http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/nij/188742.txt

5. Poverty of Children in the Urban Society

An empiric study on local and social structures of poverty in the region of the Ruhr has been published in Neue Praxis (3, 2001, S. 311-320) by Klaus Peter Strohmeier of the Ruhr University in Bochum. (Klaus.P.Strohmeier@ruhr-uni-bochum.de). The report can be downloaded from http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/zefir, as well as the WHO report „Urban Violence“. The charts illustrate that the „phenomenon of poverty“ especially affects young people, couples with children and single parents.

6. Website about Police Reform in England

By the end of 2001 the Home Office set up a Website provided with links concerning police reform programmes in Great Britan: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/policereform/index.htm There are several studies published on behalf of the Home Office. Most interesting are the Home Office Research Study 225 “Intervening to prevent antisocial personality disorder: a scoping review“ under http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hors225.pdf. This study comprising 112 pages deals with the risk factors for „antisocial“ behaviour bzw. personality disorders of juveniles and adults as well as a study concerning minorities and crimes based on racism in England. The Research Findings 146 “Ethnic minorities' experience of crime and policing: findings from the 2000 British Crime Survey” under http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/r146.pdf illuminate victimization and fear of crime among minorities in Great Britain based on the interviews made in 2000. The finding was that ethnic minorities are victimized more often, what is mainly due, however, to their disadvantaged social situation.and their livinge areas.. They are more often victims of racial violence. Wheras for 1999 280.000 racial crimes are listed by the persons interviewed, they still stated 390.000 for 1995. In comparison to this decrease in crimes the interviewed persons quoted themselves, the number of racial crimes reported to the police increased by the fourfold. This is due to a significant change in the general attitude in reporting crimes and clearly shows once again that police criminal statistics are rather doubtful. Furthermore this study shows that minorities are significantly less content with the police - if they called the police - than other people

7. New Studies of the British Home Office Concerning Drug Problems

The 116 pages of Research Study 224 “Drug misuse declared in 2000: results from the British Crime Survey” deal with the development, the consume patterns and further characteristics of drug consumers – in long-term comparison as well. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hors224.pdf. See the short version (4 pages) under http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/r149.pdf. The problem of drug dependency and drug consume of affected persons is the topic of Research Findings 148 “Drug use and offending: summary results from the first year of the NEW-ADAM research programme”. As per this study 65% of the persons arrested by the police were tested for drugs with positive result (under the ADAM (Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring) project set up for trial, which plans an immediate drug test on the occasion of arrest. See the 4-page short version under http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/r148.pdf. The Occasional Paper 74 “Sizing the UK market for illicit drugs” (56 pages) deals with the dimensions of illegal drug trade: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/occ74-drugs.pdf. A per this paper there are approx. 270,000 regular heroine users in Great Britain. The study reveals that a heroine addict needs approx. 16,500 British pound (ca. EURO), a crack user 21,000 British pound in order to finance his addiction.

8. Council of Europe and Police Training

The 65 participants coming from 34 states to the multilateral conference „Police Training and New Technologies“, 21-23 Sept. 01, in Barcelona recommended, among other things, to build up a "Pan-European Centre of Expertise and Information on Legal Universal Values and Principles of Policing“. More information about the conference (papers, conclusions) and the projected centre under http://www.legal.coe.int/criminal/police/Default.asp?fd=conf&fn=Conf(2001Barcelona)E.htm or from the Chairman of the conference (Thomas Feltes mail@ThomasFeltes.de).

9. New Network Against Domestic Violence in the Netherlands

The Ministry of Justice in the Netherlands has set up an (elektronic) network against domestic violence. Under www.minjust.nl/b_organ/nhg/english/index.htm you will find studies, figures and facts as well as hints concerning investigation of crimes in this context (in English). A quarterly magazine can be subscribed there under www.huiselijkgeweld.nl.

TF (Dank an H. Koetzsche)

10. Longterm Effects of Psychotherapeutics

Not least since the financial crisis of the public health system psychotherapeutics are controversial, not only because some people think that success can hardly or cannot been proved. For the field of psychoanalysis which is most difficult to evaluate an expensive study has been submitted. More than 200 psychoanalysts and more than 400 former patients are involved. The representative study of psychoanalytic (longterm)treatments terminated between 1990 and 1993, investigates the effects of these treatments after five to nine years, in 1998 and 1999. The result of the study supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and Internationale Psychoanalytische Gesellschaft is that approx. 80% of the former patients report positive changes concerning well-being, individual development and relations with other persons, 70 to 80% concerning mastering certain events in their lives, self-esteem, mood, satisfaction of life and efficiency. Beside these subjective findings the study shows that the average rate of temporary disability and visits to a doctor significantly decreased: from 6.7 visits to a doctor and. 10.3 days of disability before the treatment to 4 visits to a doctor and 4 days of disability in the last year. So the study proves the significantly positive effect of psychoanalytic therapies. Source: M. Leuzinger-Bohlber u.a., Langzeitwirkungen von Psychoanalysen und Psychotherapien: Eine multiperspektivische, repräsentative Katamnesestudie. In: Psyche 3, 2001, p. 193-276

11. Empirical Model for Localizing Serial Murderers Tested

In an empirical study American scientists tested the effectiveness of a geographical model to determine the whereabouts of serial murderers (so–called “Dragnet system”) with 70 American serial murder cases. As a result they could show that 51% of the perpetrators could be found in the first 5% of the defined search area, 87% within the first 25% and 100% in the defined search area. The authors believe that the results support such operational models that allow to reconstruct the geographical behavior of offenders. Source: D. Canter, T. Coffey, M. Huntley u.a., Predicting serial killer´s home base using a decision support system. In: Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 16, 4, 2000, S. 457-478 (CJA 0379-33) .

12. Perpetrators and Victims under the Swastika

This is the title of a book publication bearing the subtitle: „Eine Landespolizei stellt sich der Geschichte“( A Federal State Police Faces History). It has been published by the Freundeskreis zur Unterstützung der Polizei Schleswig Holstein e.V., Im Saal 2, 24145 Kiel, Tel. 0431-717777 (association of friends for the support of the Police in Schleswig-Holstein). On 278 pages and in 21 contributions the volume deals with the history of the Schleswig-Hostein Police between 1933 and 1945. Thanks to the initiative of the Head of the Police Department in the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Interior, Jörg Ziercke, the book could be created and 10,000 copies could be printed with support of the Department of the Interior. Congratulations upon the idea and the realization, above all, however, on the contributions. They demonstrate that one can tackle and must tackle the period between 1933 and 1945, even from the police point of view.

13. European Traffic Policy by 2010

‘Numerous measures and political instruments are necessary to initiate the process leading to a traffic system ecologically compatible in the long run’. These are the first lines of the conclusions of the "Weißbuch 'Die europäische Verkehrspolitik bis 2010: Weichenstellungen für die Zukunft'“. The complete book is available for download as pdf file on the home page of the European Commission http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy_transport/de/lb_de.html.

14. Private Municipality Police in Switzerland

The first private municipality police exists in Switzerland since November 2001.

Three municipalities (Oberwil–Lieli, Berikon and Widen) have charged the company Sisec GmbH “to provide public order and safety” by means of a safety service (as per the order). 10 Sisec employees in uniforms are on tour in vehicles marked “Gemeindepolizei” (Municipality police) within these municipalities. The employees don't carry any weapons, they wear, however, bullet-proof vests. By the way, some of them are former employees of the police corps. Source: „Wochenfalter“ (Zeitung der Gemeinde Oberwil), 2.11.01.

The Last (?): Police makes Mobile Phone Thieves go mad by SMS

The Amsterdam Police managed to reduce mobile phone thefts by 50% within three months. The SMS “Warning, this is a stolen phone, it’s against the law to use it and it’s a crime to steal it” was continuously sent to the stolen mobile phones.

And the very last:

The British Home Office has just presented a (first) empirical study concerning mobile phone theft which now makes up 6% of all registered criminal offenses there. Frequency, situations and connections as well as prevention possibilities are represented on 78 pages. The Amsterdam model is judged critical or even negative. Source: Home Office Research Study 235 - Mobile phone theft.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hors235.pdf
TF

Police-Newsletter No. 38 (March 2002)

1. Privatised Prisons

2. Increase in Telephone Monitoring

3. Warning Systems Alert Police

4. Public surveys as a tool to improve police reform

5. Who delivers what (in Germany)?

6. Study shows no relation between victimisation and fear of crime

7. Special volume on Youth Crime and Urban Violence in France

8. Is there a real increase in paedophilia?

9. Is Crime-Mapping successful?

10. German Journal „Kriminologisches Journal“ online

11. „Xenophilia“ against xenophobia: Erlanger geographers develop PC game

12. War Child Project

13. Identification of individuals by Biometry

14. Youth Gang Symposium in Orlando

1. Privatised Prisons

One of the most daunting challenges confronting our criminal justice system today is the overcrowding of our nation's prisons. One solution proposed was the privatisation of prisons and jails by contracting out, in part or in whole, their operations. To explore the issues pertaining to the privatisation of prisons, BJA funded a nationwide study that has resulted in this monograph. The study resulted in some interesting conclusions. The study (94 pages) is available at http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/bja/181249.pdf or http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/bja/181249.txt .

2. Increase in Telephone Monitoring

In 2000, 1.940 telephone connections were monitored in Baden–Wurttemberg, almost 25% more than in 1999. This increase is primarily due to the increase in the number of mobile phone owners (of 22 millions in 1999 to more than 50 millions in 2000). Accused persons were affected in about two thirds of the monitoring measures, one third were “other connection owners”. The legal maximum duration of the monitoring period of three months was made use of in 16.4% of the cases, in 6.6% the period was even extended. More than half of all monitoring dealt with violations against the illegal drug laws.

3. Warning Systems Alert Police

The 8-pages paper "Early Warning Systems: Responding to the Problem Police Officer" discusses early warning systems designed to reduce the problematic police behaviours that lead to citizen complaints by identifying officers who may be experiencing problems on the job and providing appropriate counselling or training for them. Source: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/188565.pdf or http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/nij/188565.txt

In the same context a study on suicide risk-factors of police officers might be of interest. The study shows, that it is possible to avoid suicide by officers, if special warning signals are known and accepted. Source: K. Mohandie, J.R. Meloy, Clinical and forensic indicators of “suicide by cop”. In: Journal of Forensic Sciences 45, 2, 2000, S. 384-389. An other aspect is touched by a study on the effectiveness of less than lethal force in suicide-by-cop incidents. The study investigates the effectiveness of police use of force in incidents, in which individuals engage in threatening and criminal behaviour in order to force the police to kill them. A review of 14 cases found out, that 44% of the less-than-lethal force incidents were resolved without the death of the subject, as opposed to only 11% of the comparison incidents. Deadly force was less likely to be resorted to in cases where police attempted to physically overcome the subject, though these cases also presented a heightened level of risk to officers. Source: R.J. Homant, D.B. Kennedy, Effectiveness of less than lethal force in suicide-by-cop incidents. In: Police Quarterly 3, 2, 2000, S. 153-171. Although of interest for the topic of health and illness within the police: Two studies by the British Home Office on the problem of absence due to illness and early retirement, due to illness. Source: Police Research Series Paper 143 - In Sickness and in Health: Reducing sickness absence in the police service; the total report is available at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs143.pdf, a summary at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs143bn.pdf . For the early retirement problem you find a Briefing Note - Managing Medical Retirements in the Police Service, at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/brf301.pdf.

4. Public surveys as a tool to improve police reform

In summer 2000, the Vera Institute of Justice (www.vera.org) has published a report on using public surveys to improve police reforms. The 12-pages paper is available at http://www.vera.org/publication_pdf/citizenssurveys.pdf.

5. Who delivers what (in Germany)?

At http://web.wlwonline.de you find everything you need for those who are responsible for buying for bigger organizations.

6. Study shows no relation between victimisation and fear of crime

German studies could show, that there is no direct relation between victimisation and fear of crime – at least for less severe crimes and non-multiple victimization (victims of severe crimes or people who were victimized more than one or two times show higher levels of fear of crime). A study by Lee and Ulmer, published in “Criminology”, examines incivilities, crime risk and fear of crime perceived by Korean Americans’. The study shows strong effects on fear of crime for English proficiency, length of U.S. residence, preference for ethnic Korean media, perceived risk of future black rioting, and anti-black prejudice. The study discusses the importance of cultural factors and the dynamics of race and ethnic conflicts in explaining fear of crime. M. S. Lee, J.T. Ulmer, Fear of crime among Korean Americans in Chicago Communities. In: Criminology 38, 4, 2000, S. 1173-1206.

7. Special volume on Youth Crime and Urban Violence in France

Five different articles, analysing that problem from sociological perspectives, are published in the journal „Deviance et Societe“. The articles also deal with the problem of Arab youth and their violence in French suburbs. Source: D. Duprez, L. Mucchielle, P. Milburg u.a., Les désordres urbain: Regards sociologiques. In: Deviance et Societe 24, 4, 2000, p. 327-440.

8. Is there a real increase in paedophilia?

The essay examines the nature and extent of sex offending in comparison to the development of sex offender legislation in the U.K. A punitive socio-legal policy toward sex offenders against minors has been driven by public demand. The perception of an appallingly high incidence of serious abuse by incorrigible men has been encouraged by press sensationalism, but criminal statistics and recidivism studies fail to confirm either an escalation of sex crimes against minors or the inevitability of recidivism. Exaggerated perception of risk produces undue restrictions on children’s freedom and on their interactions with teachers and other adults. Source: D. West, Paedophilia: Plague or panic? In: Journal of Forensic Psychiatry 11, 3, 2000, S. 511-531

9. Is Crime-Mapping successful?

A case study of crime mapping and crime analysis in one American police department indicates that in spite of progress in knowledge about levels and kinds of social disorganization, repeat offenders, clusters of problems and incidents, crime mapping has no operational effects. Analyses of interviews and observations collected in 1999 indicate that the extant software’s analytic capacity is rendered ineffective by the lack of a supportive infrastructure; poor information distribution; isolated and not integrated databases; and lack of on-line access by patrol officers. Suggestions are offered for linking crime mapping capacity with practice. Source: P.K. Manning, Technology´s ways: Information technology, crime analysis and the rationalization of policing. In: Criminal Justice: The International Journal of Policy and Practise, 1, 1, 2001, p. 83-103.

10. German Journal „Kriminologisches Journal“ online

Somewhat hidden at http://www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/kriminol/krimfram2.htm you may find summaries and content-overviews of articles, published from 1985 to 2000 in this leading leftist German criminological journal. You also find links to homepages and e-mail- addresses of members of the board and other “critical criminologists” in Germany.

11. „Xenophilia“ against xenophobia: Erlanger geographers develop PC game

Applicants for political asylum and the New Year's Eve firework cost almost the same amount, namely 4.4 billion marks, every year. Why do Indians, walking in Bombay's streets, touch their earlobe? Surely not because of the hygienic conditions. This rather is a form of excuse in India. These are only two examples out of one hundred questions of “Xenophilia, the intercultural game on you and others” that has been developed by the Bayerische Forschungsverbund für Regionalforschung im außereuropäischen Ausland (FORAREA) (Bavarian Research Union for Regional Research in Non–European Foreign Countries). The CD–ROM can be ordered at 39 marks or 49 marks (CD–ROM and information booklet) from the office of FORAREA 91054 Erlangen, Institut für Geographie, Kochstraße 4. For a demo version see www.xenophilia.de.

12. War Child Project

Children are amongst the first casualties of any armed conflict, always the most vulnerable and innocent of victims. In the last decade alone 1.5 million children have died in wars. Four million have been disabled and a further 10 million traumatised. The severe psychological wounds that war inflicts on children can scar them for life, crippling the very generations that must one day re-build their devastated countries. For the future peace of the world we must do everything in our power to help these war children. The organization provides at www.warchild.org information on their work and on their projects. You also find a photo exhibition with pictures of children from Ingushetia at http://www.warchild.org/artists/Ingushetia/index.html.

13. Identification of individuals by Biometry

We expect biometric identification systems to offer comfort in every-day life and measures to enhance security. The University of Applied Sciences Gießen-Friedberg carried out a research project examining reliability, easiness to use and acceptance of such systems. The findings have recently been published. The basic part of the documentation deals with legal, human genetics and ethical aspects. The second part describes the procedures, and the third part is dedicated to the perspectives from the users’ point of view and with regard to the economic potential. Behrens, Michael; Roth, Richard (Hrsg.): Biometrische Identifikation – Grundlagen, Verfahren, Perspektiven; Vieweg-Verlag in „DuD-Fachbeiträge“. Source: idw, Personenerkennung per Biometrie, 21.12.2001

14. Youth Gang Symposium in Orlando

Together We Can: Comprehensive Approaches to Gangs. The OJJDP's National Youth Gang Symposium will take place June 11-13, 2002, in Orlando, Florida. Participants will receive up-to-date information on effective gang-related programs and learn about the latest trends. (OJJDP) Access full description and register at: http://www.gangsymposium.org/

Finally: You can listen to what is happening on the Police Radio of the New York Police Force NYPD at http://www.policescanner.com/PoliceNYPD.stm

(Thanks to W. Mallach und A.Bosch, NY)

And the very last...

A new “cult of bad taste” in Japan. The Tokyo Shock Boys (a music group) eat scorpions and dry ice http://www.t-shock.com/m-profile-e.html, and for 10.- US$ you may beat living punching balls for 3 minutes at a Tokyo shopping mall. Source: Zukunftsletter 2000x.de, September 2001 (www.2000x.de).

The Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Internationales (CERI) organises on Friday March 22, 2002, a colloque on « criminality and governement in post-communist Europe. The CERI will host the event (address: 56 rue Jacob, 75006, Paris ), from 09 :00 to 18 :00 . The event is open to the public. For any contact: Michel@ceri-sciences-po.org .

Police-Newsletter No. 39, 15.04.2002

Editorial note: A HTML version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei–Newsletter.de since November 2001. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can order the French version and the English version. You can also comfortably subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French or English version via this homepage .

1. Organized Crime from Russia: A worldwide threat?

2. Connection between killing crimes and the availability of weapons

3. Most offenders commit crimes where they spend their leisure time

4. Crime costs England 60 trillions pounds every year

5. Costs and Benefits of Migrants

6. Slave Trade and Migration

7. Delinquency of Russian Immigrants – a Study from the Netherlands

8. The effects of chiefs’ presence on the behaviour of police officials

9. Controlled drinking as new therapy concept

10. Talks in jail with prisoners as preventive measure

11. Police and police research: Stock-takings of David Bayley

12. Once again: What works and what doesn’t in police work?

13. E-bomb and Cyber Attack

14. KrimDok updated

15. Studies concerning prescription of heroine in the Netherlands and Switzerland

16. Remove Spyware

1. Organized Crime from Russia: A worldwide threat?

Under the title "The Threat of Russian Organized Crime" this problem is discussed on 40 pages as well as its effects (primarily on the USA). The text of the 40–pages study of Finkenauer and Voronin is available under http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/187085.pdf oder http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/nij/187085.txt.

2. Connection between killing crimes and the availability of weapons

The question whether the availability of hand guns has an influence on the rate of the murder and homicide crimes has repeatedly been put and examined in the past. The latest study comparing international data proves a significantly positive effect between the availability of such weapons and the corresponding killing rate, with the intensity of the effect being “impressing” according to the author, and a reverse relation (killing-rate has an influence on the number of available weapons or high homicide rates make the citizens arm themselves) explicitly being rejected. In addition the study proves that homicide rates are higher in countries with heterogeneous ethnic composition and in “conservative welfare states”. Anthony W. Hoskin, Armed Americans: The Impact of Firearm Availability on National Homicide Rates. In: Justice Quarterly 18, 3 September 2001, p. 569–592.:

3. Most offenders commit crimes where they spend their leisure time

This is the conclusion of a 60–pages empirical study of the English Home Office based on various data for the period between 1995 and 1997. If a person committed an offense apart from his/her residence, he/she had primarily not intended to commit an offense, but had done so for other, private reasons. Source: P. Wiles, A. Costello, The “Road to nowhere”: The evidence for travelling criminals. London, U.K. Home Office (Development and Statistics Directorate) 2000.

4. Great Britain has to spend 60 trillion pounds on criminality every year

A study of the British Home Office has tried for the first time to project the social costs of criminal offenses. Without considering the indirect costs which are caused by crime fear and loss of quality of life the 88-pages study calculates the amount of 60 trillion pounds (for England and Wales 1999/2000) for economic and social subsequent costs of the criminality. Source: P. fire, R. Price, The Economic and social costs of crime. London, Home Office, research, Development and Statistics Department, 2000.

5. Costs and Benefits of Migrants

The effects of migrants on an economy and on its existing residents are central to the migration debate, yet little is known about the impact that the migrant population in the UK has via the fiscal system. The primary aim of this paper is to discuss the fiscal effect and various associated issues by examining theoretical and various by examining theoretical and empirical literature. The paper considers what determines the fiscal effect, how it changes over time and whether there are observable characteristics that predict whether an individual will be a net fiscal contributor, as well as how it is affected by government policy. A number of options for enhancing fiscal outcomes for migrants are discussed. In the paper a tentative original analysis for first-generation migrants in the UK is also undertaken. From this it is estimated that in 1999/2000 migrants in the UK contributed £31.2 billion in taxes and consumed £28.8 billion in benefits and state services, a net fiscal contribution of approximately £2.5 billion after rounding. This is equivalent to around 1p on the basic rate of income tax. The paper concludes that, overall, the current population of first-generation migrants in the UK perform well economically and make a net fiscal contribution. However, migrants are heterogeneous. Though migrants are found to make a positive net fiscal contribution overall, some do less well economically than others, and are likely to have an negative fiscal impact. Domestic policies aimed at improving access to the labour market and tackling social exclusion can help to address this. The direct fiscal impact is, of course, only one aspect of the contribution that migrants make to the UK. There are wider economic benefits which migrants bring, through their skills and experience, and by setting up new business and creating new jobs, for example. Therefore, migration also creates further indirect fiscal effects through any increase to gross domestic product (GDP) and the income of the existing population. Migration also creates important social and cultural benefits, and possible costs. A discussion of migration within a wider context is presented in the recent Home Office study “Migration: An Economic and Social Analysis” (Home Office, 2001) Occasional Paper 77 - The migrant population in the UK: fiscal effects http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/occ77migrant.pdf

6. Slave Trade and Migration

A book of 416 pages deals with slave trade and illegal migration in Europe. The main emphasis of the contributions in the first part lies on describing extent, main fields and traffic routes as well as border controls. The contributions in the second part of the book describe individual countries (Hungary, Poland and the Ukraine), and discuss the way how the slave trade is organized there. J. Salt, J. Hogarth, J. Juhasz and others, Migrant trafficking and humane smuggling in Europe: A review of The evidence with case study from Hungary, Poland and Ukraine. Geneva, International Organization for migration, 2000 (ISBN 92–9068–097–0).

7. Delinquency of Russian Immigrants – a Study from the Netherlands

The authors of an ethnographic study carried out in Amsterdam and Rotterdam examine whether the Russian immigrants’ image of criminality in the Netherlands is true. They found out that many Russian immigrants in the Netherlands don't fight this image but make use of it or manipulate it. As a result this leads to a self–fulfilling prophecy - a concept we know in German criminology, too, and that may explain the phenomenon of “Russenkriminalität” (Russian criminality) in Germany as well. Source: D. Siegel, F. Bovenkerk, Crime and manipulation of identity among Russian-speaking immigrants in the Netherlands. In: Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 16, 4, p. 424–444.

8. The effects of chiefs’ presence on the behaviour of police officials

A study from the USA has evaluated about 12,000 police-citizen contacts during 360 shifts and has examined the question if and which consequences the presence of a chief has on a police official’s intervention and whether the chief’s leading style has any influence. Result: the chief’s presence has an influence (the police official reacts more repressively and is more likely to arrest ), with the chief’s leading style being without any influence, i.e. whether the chief is e.g. rather repressive, rather cooperative or liberal doesn't matter for this result. Source: R.S. Engel, The effects of supervisory styles on patrol officer behaviour. In: Policy Quarterly 3, 3, 2000 p. 262–293

9. Controlled drinking as new therapy concept

2.4 million people in Germany are alcoholics, and another four million abuse alcohol. Up to now, abstinence was considered as the only sound therapy. Now it is planned to adopt for therapy the theoretically discussed model of controlled drinking which has been the prevention aim until now. The “Suchttherapietage” (Conference of addiction therapy) which take place at the centre for an interdisciplinary addiction research of the University of Hamburg every year have in 2002 the topic “Konsum kontrollierbar – kontrollierter Konsum. Suchttherapie jenseits des Abstinenzparadigmas?“ („Consumption controllable - controlled consumption. Addiction therapy without the abstinence paradigm?”). The Nuremberg psychologist Joachim Körkel developed the therapy concept and until now, only the Nuremberg Caritas psycho-social advice centre for addicts offers this therapy concept. The target group are not former alcoholics living abstinent, but current addicts who are willing to stop the spiral of drinking more and more. Therefore a concept is worked out together with them saying when they may drink how much and in which situations not at all. (Source: taz Hamburg 17./18.11.01, p.29.)

10. Talks in jail with prisoners as preventive measure

Almost unnoticed a concept is tested in Germany, too, since 1998. It has been practised in the USA for many years: prisoners invite endangered juveniles for a talk. The aim is to convince the juveniles that crimes are useless. It is interesting to note that the concept was developed by prisoners of the Hamburg penal institution „Santa Fu“ and accepted by the management only after three years of resistance. By now, more than 200 juveniles have accepted this offer of the prisoners, most of them completing long-term sentences for capital crimes. More about the project „Gefangene helfen Jugendlichen“ (Prisoners help juveniles) is available under: www.gefangene-helfen-jugendlichen.de. Unfortunately the American projects did not show an empirically measurable success. However, the attempt in Germany seems to be worthwhile. By now, the project is not sponsored by public funds. Source: Hamburger Abendblatt 17./18.11.01.

11. Police and police research: Stock-takings of David Bayley

David Bayley, professor at the State University of New York in Albany and one of the best–known police researchers has written two current and comprehensive booklets, for the American National Institute of Justice. The first booklet is titled “The New Structure of Policing”, together with Clifford Shearing, professor at the centre of Criminology of the University of Toronto and gives a 47-pages comprehension of current knowledge about police research and police reform and tries to point out prospects of further development. The second booklet (“Democratizing the Police Abroad: What to Do and How to Do it”) deals with police reforms worldwide and goes among others also into the question how to ensure the delimitation between inner and outer safety and between police and military tasks). It has 78 pages of text completed by a bibliography quoting the 500 books, essays and contributions to the police topic which are currently most important. The two booklets complement each other and are an excellent and unprecedented basis for the intensive scientific occupation with the police topic. David H. Bayley, Clifford D. Shearing, The New Structure of Policing: Description, Conceptualization, and Research Agenda. NIJ Research Report, Washington July 2001 (NCJ 187083); David H. Bayley, Democratizing The Policy Abroad: What to Do and How to Do it. Issues in International Crime, Washington June 2001 (NCJ 188742). Available by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (www.ojp.usdoj.gov) and by the National Institute of Justice (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij.)

12. Once again: What works and what doesn’t in police work?

More and more the question of “What works?” is discussed in studies worldwide after the extensive/profound US report. The Australian Institute for Criminology has just published such a study. It describes four essential deficits within police work: An “unhealthy” distance between police and municipalities which it serves, the refusal of the police to engage in so–called “Quality of life” problems (public order in a wider sense.); the continued preference of traditional, reactive police measures and the lack of an appropriate IT equipment supporting a proactive preventive police work. The study emphasizes that the police permanently refuses to take note of research results, much less convert them into practice. This is primarily true for the ”sacred cow”, the preventive police patrols and the quick reaction to emergency calls. Source: http://www.aic.gov.au/conferences/outlook4/Mazeroll.html.

13. E-bomb and Cyber Attack

Since Sept. 11 2001 fear of a worldwide “e-catastrophy” increases. The possibility that future campaigns will be carried out in the field of information and information technology is increasingly recognized. The E bomb which the NATO has among others and which is said to have been used in Belgrade is an electromagnetic impulse weapon that can paralyze computers, sets of signals and communication systems or power stations (like in Belgrade). Even countries equipped with ancient technology are able to build such bombs (price 1.000. to 2,000 U.S. $ per piece). American safety advisers and army officers warn of an “electronic Pearl Harbour” by hacker attacks on computer systems. Various institutions and working groups think about prevention possibilities, e.g. the Naval Graduate School (www.infowar.com), where the “CybercrimeNews” can be subscribed. Source: Future character 11/2001, p. 4 (www.2000x.de):

14. KrimDok updated

The criminological data base KrimDok of the institute for Kriminologie of the University Tuebingen has been updated with stand September 2001 and covers approx. 121,000 titles now. It will be updated monthly from now on. A search form is available under http://krimdok.ifk.jura.uni–tuebingen.de/kd4query_d.html , further notes under http://krimdok.ifk.jura.uni–tuebingen.de.

15. Studies concerning prescription of heroine in the Netherlands and Switzerland

The Dutch health department installed a central commission for the treatment of addicts to heroine at the end of 1996. In February 2002, this commission presented an extensive report (252 pages) showing the results of the first test concerning the prescription of heroine for addicts. The study shows that the combination of methadone and heroine is more successful than the treatment with methadone alone for chronic treatment-resistant patients. The commission suggests to extend this practice for certain target groups as “last possibility” with an intensive quality management at the same time and the registration of heroine as medical product or medicine. The complete report is available under www.ccbh.nl. The medical prescription of heroine is also an accepted form of treatment in Switzerland in case of heavy drug addiction. A study of the University of Lausanne (IPSC)has now scrutinized the consequences of the prescription practice on the crime rate of addicts. As a result, the data drawn from police files prove a “significant, stable and general decrease in crime of persons treated over a period of four years”, with the so–called “maturing–out effect” being taken into account, i.e. the phenomenon of decreasing criminality with increasing age. Even considering this effect, the trend remains. Source: Crimiscope 18, December 2001. The detailed final report “Schlussbericht zu den Auswirkungen der der Verschreibung von BtM auf die Delinquenz von Drogenabhängigen – 3. erw. Auflage“ can be ordered from Sekretariat Crimiscope, UNIL - Institut de police scientifique et de criminologie, CH 1015 Lausanne (price CHF 20.–).

16. Remove Spyware

Have you, too, been surprised about e–mails which you get without having requested them? You can be sure that a so–called “spyware” has nested on your PC. It monitors your surfing-behaviour. These data are saved and transferred to advertising-agencies. If you want to check whether a downloaded programme installs spyware you can do so under www.spychecker.com. Even better: install Ad Aware. Ad Aware is a free software which checks the PC Spyware, removes it on request and takes care that in future no spies nest in. Download of ad Aware e.g. from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/aaw.html .

And at last

The U.S. Ministry of Defense has a stink bomb searched. The disgusting weapon shall primarily be used at demonstrations and takings of hostages. The professional journal “Chemical & engineering News” reported about the state of the project in January 2002. The principle is simple: Because of the sharp, disgusting smell people are seized with a panic and immediately leave the streets. Substances arising a similarly repulsive effect in all cultures are looked for. Human secretions, decaying meat and garbage are the researchers’ favourites. Source: taz 8 January 2002:

Or this:

Webcam in the cell

Sheriff Joe Arpaio makes it possible and allows internet users (on registration!) to have a look into his “empire”. Authorities’ transparency in a new dimension under: http://www.crime.com/info/jailcam_redirect.html

Police Newsletter Nr. 40, May 2002

Editorial note: A HTML version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei–Newsletter.de All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French or English version.

Contents:

1. Reform of the Swiss Youth criminal law

2. Study on Identification of Suspects by Confrontation

3. Direction finding device for kidnapped business people

4. Specialists conference "Empirische Polizeiforschung IV”

5. Money Laundering and EU

6. Informationen about Europe

7. “Broken Windows” in road traffic?

8. Companies as murderers?

9. Moral panics and the role of media

10. Repeatedly victim of burglary?

11. Speed checks by automatic speed cameras – success with various kinds of drivers

12. Dokuments on the International Tribunal for Rwanda online and on CD

13. "Violence at Home": Internet Documentation

14. Police Psychology in the internet

And last: Carrera Motor Racing for conferences

1. Reform of the Swiss Youth criminal law

In Switzerland the crimial code is being revised. The youth criminal law is separated from the criminal code and settled in a new federal law. A pre-draft of Swiss youth criminal law is submitted as well. The documents are available under: Revision of criminal code: http://www.ofj.admin.ch/themen/stgb-rev/intro-d.htm ; new youth criminal law (pre-draft and collateral report) http://www.ofj.admin.ch/themen/stgb-vstrafp/intro-d.htm. (Thanks to A. Pedrazzini).

2. Study on Identification of Suspects by Confrontation

The British Home Office has published a study containing references to problems and suggestions for the improvement during police confrontations. The 6-pages brief report is available as pdf file under “Policing and Reducing Crime briefing note 2/02 –– The Visual Identification of Suspects: Procedures and Practice”: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/brf202.pdf

3. Direction finding device for kidnapped business people

An identification chip as small as a rice grain together with a direction finding device carried on the body shall serve to identify kidnapped persons everywhere. The chip is inserted under the skin and as soon as the direction finding device is apart from the chip, the alarm is released. The product bears the beautiful name “digitaler Engel” (digital angel). www.digitalangel.net. At only 299.–US $ a watch with transmitter sending an e–mail if necessary is available. Offered for “active” senior citizens or children ... Source: Trendletter 3/2002.

4. Specialists conference "Empirische Polizeiforschung IV”

The specialists conference "Empirische Polizeiforschung IV: Die Polizei im Netzwerk institutionalisierter sozialer Kontrolle” (Empirical police research IV: The police in the network of institutionalized social control) from July 4th to 6th, 2002 in Münster. The conference is organized by the "Fachhochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung NRW” University of Applied Sciences - Public Administration - Nordrhein-Westfalen and the police institute for further education “Carl Severing”, Münster/Westf. Information about the conference (programme etc.) is available from Dr. Frevel bernh.frevel@t-online.de or from FHöV NRW (hermann.bertling@fhoev.nrw.de ).

5. Money Laundering and EU

Transcrime, an institute of the legal faculty of the University Trient (Italy) under the direction of Ernesto Savona, has published a report on money–laundering for the European Commission. It is available under the title “Transparency and Money Laundering: Study of the Regulation and its Implementation, in the EU Member States, that Obstruct Anti-Money Laundering International Co-operation (Banking/Financial and Corporate/Company Regulative Fields)”. Information about it and about many other studies of the institute from www.transcrime.unitn.it or by email transcri@gelso.unitn.it..

6. Informationen about Europe

The European Policy Center (www.theepc.be) as an interface between government, business, and civil society provides up-to-date information on European matters; the Center for European Policy Studies (http://www.ceps.be/index.htm ) provides documents and comments on Europe (thanks to Uwe Ewald).

7. “Broken Windows” in road traffic?

An empirical US study checks the question whether the well-known Broken–Windows theory can be applied to the field of car traffic in the USA. The authors consider the significant connection found between the increase in killing crimes and the increase in fatal road accidents in the 50 US states between 1975 and 1996 and in various towns to be in correlation with the Broken–Windows theory of Wilson and Kelling (by the way, also between the number of killing crimes and the number of police officers): a decrease in police traffic controls makes citizens feel that the police don't care about traffic; this might be interpreted by citizens and potential perpetrators in a way, that one can rather violate regulations – this is true for traffic as well as for crime in general. This could cause a simultaneous increase (or dcrease respectively) in fatal road accidents and killing crimes. Quelle: D. Giacopassi, D.R. Forde, „Broken Windows, crumpled feathers, and crime. In: Journal of Criminal Justice 28, 5, 2000, S. 397-405 (CJA 0736-33).

8. Companies as murderers?

This English study deals with a subject hardly noticed in Germany: Cases of death caused by accidents which companies and enterprises were to blame for. The study assumes that due to such “accidents” caused by companies almost 1,000 people died in Great Britain between 1985 and 2000. The study suggests how to improve police inquiries in case of “violence of companies” and requires, among others, special departments specialized in this field. Besides, legislative and justi–tielle suggestions are presented. D. Bergman, The case for corporate responsibility: Corporate violence and the criminal justice system. London, Disaster Action, 2000 (ISBN 0-9538-331-0).

9. Scaremangering and the role of media

Critical criminology judges as moral panics the trend to influence the public opinion towards minorities or fringe groups by the media so that certain behaviors of these groups are considered as a threat for the “civilized” society. A 45-pages contribution of Yvonne Jewkes examines the actual role of the media in this field. She found out that by blaming the media for certain developments in a mono-causal explanation it is impossible to get to the bottom of the problem. Also the question whether the media have such an influence, can hardly be answered in this way. Y. Jewkes, Morals panics in a risk society: A critical evaluation. Leicester, Scarman Center for the Study of Public Order, 2000. Crime, Order and Policing Occasional Paper No. 15. Furthermore, a long–term study about the use of media has just been published: The results of the ARD/ZDF long–term study mass communication have been published in “Media Perspektiven” No. 11, 2001, p.538-563, devided into two contributions. The use of different media in the course of the years 1970 to 2000 is documented and analyzed. The leisure time increased from daily 375 minutes in 1970 to 470 minutes per day in 2000, and with it the use of media, with television e.g. from 101 minutes during leisure time to 162 minutes. The medium use outside leisure time even rose to 68 minutes in 1970 to 225 minutes in 2000 - an indication that professional use has significantly increased. The second contribution deals with a so–called cohorts comparison, that is the confrontation of different birth years in the development. Survey and pdf full text at www.media-perspektiven.de .

10. Repeatedly victim of burglary?

An empirical study from the Netherlands deals, on the basis of the evaluation of over 6,000 burglaries, with the question whether victims of burglary will be victimized again and to which extent. The result was that the chance to become victim again immediately after a burglary is significantly higher than later on. In fact, the probability decreases in the course of time (and does not increase). Another result of the study is esy to imagine: the probability to become victim again is higher in crime loaded areas (once more confirming the assumption that most perpetrators commit criminal offenses next to their residences; this is also true for repeated burglary). The contribution of E.R. Kleemans, Repeat burglary victimization:

results of empirical research in the Netherlands, has been published in a volume especially dealing with repeated victimization and containing further interesting contributions to this topic: G. Farrell und K. Pease (Hrsg.), Repeat Victimization, Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 12, Monsey (Criminal Justice Press) 2001 (ISBN 1-881798-27-5).

11. Speed checks by automatic speed cameras – success with various kinds of drivers

In a more or less experimental design the authors checked the reactions of drivers on automatic speed cameras in Great Britain, which are applied there since 1991. As a result three different types of drivers were detected: those observing the regulations, those referred to in the study as “manipulators” trying to avoid the cameras or scorching afterwards, deliberately underestimating the risk, and the defiers who pretend not to mind controls.

Most deterrent for all three subgroups is the criminal prosecution, followed by cameras in an area not monitored before; next are note signposts warning of the camerae, and public measures are ranking forth. Source:C. Corbett, A typology of drivers´ responses to speed cameras: Implications for speed limit enforcement and road safety. In: Psychology, Crime and Law 6, 4, 2000, S. 305-330.

12. Dokuments on the International Tribunal for Rwanda online and on CD

The United Nations have published a CD–ROM with documents and decisions of the Rw–anda tribunal at U.S. $ 125.- and can be ordered at publications@un.org (USA) or unpubli@unog.ch (Switzerland). Almost all documents are also available online through the Web site of the tribunal. Information about history and current work of the tribunal there are offered as well: http://www.ictr.org/. The tribunal was established in 1995 to examine the genocide and the violations of human rights during the disturbances in Rwanda in 1994 and sentence persons responsible. The seat of the tribunal is Arusha, Tanzania.

13. "Violence at Home": Internet Documentation

On January 1st, 2002, the law of protection against violence became effective, primarily designed to protect against violence within the closest social environment. On this occasion the Information Center Social Sciences (Bonn) documents for the stand for the social scientific research. Titel of the documentation: Gewalt in der Familie. Häusliche Gewalt gegen Partner und Kinder, 108 pages (Violence within the family. Domestic violence against partners and children), IZ Social Sciences: Bonn, December 2001. The complete documentation is available in the internet, free of charge: http://www.gesis.org/Information/Themen/Fokus/index.htm The book contains descriptions of 178 publications and research projects concerning the topic.

14. Police Psychology in the internet

Under http://www.polizei–psychologie.de you will find the new website of the department "Wissenschaftlicher Dienst” (scientific service) of the police institute for further education Neuss, the former criminal college Nordrhein-Westfalen. The home page is intended to arrange contacts between police and social science and to make clear that and how social science can help the police to do their work. So the scientific staff of the department offers small essays on various topics. In addition a forum is planned where other scientists can also present their contributions to police research.

And last: Carrera Motor Racing for conferences

Conference participants under stress can relax by having a couple of laps on the Carrera toy motor racing circuit. The SAM event agency builds up the circuit for EUR 460 at the meeting place and you may play for three hours. www.sam-event.de

Police Newsletter No. 41, June 2002

The Police Newsletter is a joint venture by TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes, Universität Bochum / Hochschule für Polizei, Villingen-Schwenningen. The Html version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French or English version.

1. Conference „Police Trainers in Germany“ (PiD)

2. Important U.S. Drug Library at the Bremen University now

3. Police Officer’s Diary

4. Police Use of Force: an Analysis

5. Progressive Criminal Policy and „New Labour“

6. Declaration on Internal Security

7. Identification of persons by Biometrical Devices

8. "Bloody Sunday" examined

9. Baby Alarm prevents Kidnapping

10. Aggression and Violence in Public Transport

11. Globalisation of Monitoring

12. Internationale Expert Fair for Police and Special Equipment

13. Federal Data of Police Criminal Statistics since 1987 in the Internet

14. Assessment Centers advantageous for Police Selection procedure

1. Conference „Police Trainers in Germany“

This conference is held in Frankfurt on June 14, 2002. Topics are, among others: Acting in extreme situations (Eckert) ; Suicide by Cops (Pokojewski); checking/arresting suspicious car passengers (Scherp); Surviving Mindset (Dobrado/Gruber); Strategic measures at vehicles (Moss); Stopping aggressive truck drivers (Damberg/Gruber). Experts present the latest development in police technique and equipment during the breaks. It is planned for the future to inform about the development and evaluate novelties by tests. Detailed information under: http://www.polizeitrainer.de/konferenz.htm; report on the annual conference 2000 under: http://www.polizeitrainer.de/konferenz_2000.htm (thanks to W. Mallach)

2. Important U.S. Drug Library at the Bremen University now

Archido the documentation centre for drug literature of the University of Bremen has tripled its volume by taking over an important U.S. library. 44,000 books have been added. They are available in the presence library and online (www.archido.de). Thus Archido has become the most important drug library in Germany.

3. Police Officer’s Diary

The British Home Office surprises with wise and informative studies. „Diary of a Police Officer“ is the first empirical study on daily routine and activities of the “typical” police officer. 378 diaries were evaluated and interviews were made with police officers representing 3,000 years of police work. One of the results shown is that the time spent on patrol work is between 14 p.c. and 20 p.c.. PA Consulting Group, Diary of a Police Officer, Police Research Series, Paper 149, London, Home Office 2001. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs149.pdf

4. Police Use of Force: an Analysis

The use of force by police officers has become the topic of a study. Some scientists set up the hypothesis that the police structure may have an influence on the use of force by the officers. Furthermore little is known about how the police stations handle the use of force of their officers. Where supervisors or other personnel is charged to fill in forms about the use of force, significantly less cases are reported than from where the officers themselves may fill in the forms. Nevertheless, police stations collecting data for a special purpose report clearly more cases. Source: Geoffrey P. Alpert, John M. Macdonald, Police Use of Force: An Analysis of Organizational Characteristics, in Justice Quarterly, Vol. 18 No. 2, June 2001 p. 393-409.

5. Progressive Criminal Policy and „New Labour“

Roger Matthews and John Pitts published a book titled “Crime, Disorder and Community Safety” (Routledge, London, New York 2001). It tries to describe and scrutinize the current development in criminal policy considering „New Labour“ and progressive criminal policy. The question is about juvenile delinquency, minorities, security in the neighbourhood and other aspects. Especially worth reading are the contributions of Jock Young (Identity, community and social exclusion, p. 26-53) and of George L. Kelling (Broken Windows and the culture wars: a response to selected critiques). Kelling (known through Wilson/Kelling, Broken Windows…) comments upon the extensive criticism of this article which led to Zero Tolerance etc. (the book can be ordered by inter-library loan from FHPol VS, signature KL 08/107 or from the Schwerpunktbibliothek Kriminologie of the Uni Tübingen http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/ub/fach/krimi/krimi.htm, signature KB 19 A 8772).

6. Declaration on Internal Security

The Interdisziplinäre Arbeitskreis Innere Sicherheit, AKIS, (Interdisciplinary Workgroup Internal Security ) – a German connection of 160 scientists submits a declaration containing 10 points, evaluating security policy after September 11, 2001. www.ak-innere-sicherheit.de

7. Identification of persons by Biometrical Devices

At the University of Applied Sciences Gießen-Friedberg, reliability, easiness to handle and users’acceptance of such identification systems are examined in an interdisciplinary research work. The results have been published by Behrens, Michael; Roth, Richard (Hrsg.): Biometrische Identifikation – Grundlagen, Verfahren, Perspektiven; Vieweg-Verlag (Reihe „DuD-Fachbeiträge“) www.viehweg.de

8. "Bloody Sunday" examined

The most expensive proceedings of the British history of law (at least 160 million Euro) have been taking place in Derry/Northern Ireland since 1998. The so-called “Bloody Sunday” is investigated. On January 30, 1972, thirteen civil persons were killed by British soldiers during a demonstration. The carefully designed homepage demonstrates the course of the proceedings by means of all decisions: http://www.bloody-sunday-inquiry.org.uk. As well all word protocols can be looked up. 2,100 witnesses were planned, and most of them (97 p.c.) could be located all over the world, although the incident dates back nearly 30 years. However, the witnesses named by the army were difficult to identify. Many of the names (40 p.c.) were wrong. Several chief witnesses were hidden to protect their lives. Nearly all weapons used at the time and needed for evidence (e.g. to examine the use of certain weapons) have been destroyed or sold. The hearings are transmitted by video into a hall for 900 persons in Derry. The investigations are supported by computer animations virtually reconstructing the town of Derry in 1972. Source: taz 30 Jan. 2002

9. Baby Alarm prevents Kidnapping

For the first time a hospital in Solingen applies a system called “Baby-Safe” to prevent kidnapping of new-born babies. This is the first German hospital http://www.k-plus.de/ equipped with "QBI Kid Safe" of MedCom Technologies in Haan www.medcom-technologies.de The QBI-System (Quest Basic Integrator) informs the maternity staff about the whereabouts of the babies on a special screen by means of infrared and radio frequency technology. Babies and mothers wear special bracelets with light resistant chips. If a baby is taken away without the mother or if someone tries to remove the baby’s bracelet, alarm is triggered automatically in the maternity station and at central points of the hospital. At the same time staff members can see on screens the kidnapped baby’s whereabouts. Corridors and staircases are additionally monitored by video cameras. The bracelet costs €80,-, the complete system is up to €100.000,-. Video film under http://online.wdr.de/online/panorama/babychips/index.phtml

10. Aggression and Violence in Public Transport

Since one decade this behaviour tends to occur more frequently and incidents are more serious. A Dutch article focuses on the development of these emotional outbursts, the factors that have attributed to the present situation and, finally, the possible combination of actions which could significantly improve the social uncertainty in public transport. Amongst interviewed train conductors 75% responds that aggressive and violent behaviour is increasing. A bit less than half of them feel sometimes insecure during their work, especially during night hours. This situation generally causes a demotivation to check tickets at night. Passengers experience this lack of control and react differently, one category by taking advantage of this situation by not buying tickets, another category by feeling insecure because the conductor is not showing up. The main recommendations to improve social security in public transport are: increasing the staff, closing the main stations by tourniquets, increasing the frequency of ticket control in the trains, reducing anonymity in the trains by a more personal approach of the train crew and finally by improving the co-operation between public transport authorities, police, school and social agencies. Source: A.R. Hauber, Openbaar vervoer: Reizigers, agressie en onveiligheid (Public transport passengers; aggression and social insecurity). In: Justitielle Verkenningen (Magazine of the Dutch Ministry of Justice) 2001, 27(1), p. 110-118. English Summary at http://www.minjust.nl/b_organ/wodc/publicaties/tijdschriften/pubtijds/pujv2001-1s.htm “Security in Public Passenger Transport“ is the topic of a meeting of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) in Paris in April 2002. You may find a contribution (in German) of Thomas Feltes to this conference at: http://www.thomasfeltes.de/htm/News.htm

11. Globalisation of Monitoring (Die Globalisierung der Überwachung)

This is the German title of the translated contribution of the Norwegian criminologist Thomas Mathiesen, evaluating the development of monitoring technology and euphoria in Europe. (http://www.heise.de/tp/deutsch/special/enfo/6861/1.html). Also critical: www.statewatch.org.

12. Internationale Expert Fair for Police and Special Equipment

This fair is held in Münster (Westfalen) from June 4 to June 6, 2002. The entrance fee is € 13.00 (valid for 3 days). Access only with service card. More information and booking: http://www.gpec.de To mention in this context: links to police authorities allover the world (from Andorra to Cyprus) are (somewhat hidden) on the homepage of Polizeitechnisches Institut of the PFA under http://www.pfa.nrw.de/pti_online_neu/index.htm; the homepage offers a wide variety of topics: research reports of their own, product lists, links etc. concerning police technology.

13. Federal Data of Police Criminal Statistics since 1987 in the Internet

The Federal Criminal Investigation Agency shows pdf-files with various police criminal statistics tables since 1987 (by 2000) on the homepage. Additionally the data can be downloaded (and processed) as Excel file. See www.bka.de - then click „Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik“. The complete report of the years 1997-2000 can be downloaded as Word file. The headline „Kriminalprävention“ offers a rather good collection of links. The only disadvantage is that the individual pages do not have their own URL; if so they could be referred to more easily.

14. Assessment Centres advantageous for Police Selection procedure

A critical analysis examines one of the key aspects of the recruitment of police junior members: the psychological criteria. The basis for the development of an alternative, more social selection system involving Assessment Centres is presented. Eric Metchik, An analysis of the 'screening out' model of police officer selection. Police Quarterly 1999, 2(1), p. 79-95, 1999.

Finally (exceptionally no joke...): competence network “Depression”

The competence network "Depression" offers well-grounded information concerning depression. By participating in the depression quiz you can help to find out the population’s knowledge about depression. http://www.kompetenznetz-depression.de/.

Violence at School and the mass media after Erfurt: a contribution containing comments and studies under http://www.heise.de/newsticker/data/tec-14.05.02-000/ (thanks to Gerhard Spiess).

Polizei-Newsletter Nr. 42, Juli 2002

The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes, Universität Bochum / Hochschule für Polizei, Villingen-Schwenningen. The Html version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French or English version.

1. Death Penalty for Juveniles and further increase in Prisoner Rates in the USA

2. Data about British Police Force

3. The role of public social control

4. Results of Online Questioning differ from Conventional Written Inquiries

5. Evidence-Based Crime Reduction (British Studies)

6. FBI Applies Hacker Methods

7. Free Call Offers Help in Case of Engine Trouble, Flat Tyre or Accident

8. Acoustic Monitoring: 41 out of 70 Operations fail

9. European Crime Prevention Award

10. Recent Study on the Treatment of „hyperactive“ Children and Juvenile Delinquency

11. Girls and Young Women in ready-to-use-force Youth Gangs

12. Baden-Württemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen Provide New Police Equipment

13. Counter-Strike-Game of the US-Army

Finally: Learn a New Word Every Day – free!

1. Death Penalty for Juveniles and Further Increase in Prisoner Rates in the USA

53.5 p.c. of all persons interviewed in Tennessee plead for death penalty even for juveniles who have committed a murder, two thirds support life-time imprisonment without the possibility of probation, and four fifths favour life-time imprisonment in connection with work and reparation. (Source: M.M. Moon a.o., Putting kids to death: Specifying public support for juvenile capital punishment. In: Justice Quarterly 17, 4, 2000, p. 663-684). Insgesamt 85 Todesurteile wurden im übrigen im Jahr 2000 in den USA vollstreckt – dennoch sitzen über 3.500 Menschen zwischen 18 und 85 Jahren nach wie vor in der Todeszelle und warten auf ihre Hinrichtung. Inzwischen scheint aber die anhaltende Diskussion um die Todesstrafe Wirkung zu zeigen. Source: Capital Punishment 2000 (16 pp.) (NCJ 190598), http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cp00.htm with vivid sketches and charts. The rate of prisoners in federal and state prisons (per 100,000 inhabitants) has more than tripled between 1980 and 2000 from 139 to 478. These rates do not include the prisoners in local „jails". The number of persons imprisoned because of drug crimes multiplied by more than 12 from 1980 (19,000) to 1999 (251,000). The number of those imprisoned because of violation of “public order” (weapons driving under alcohol, „morals and decency charges“ etc.) multiplied by 10 , whereas the violent criminals “only” tripled.

2. Data about British Police Service Strength

The British Home Office has published very precise data about Police Service strength and its development. Development and regional differences are shown under „Statistical Bulletin 23/01 - Police Service Strength England and Wales” http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb2301.pdf Interesting in this connection: Police Numbers Task Force: Report and recommendations (consultation document): http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/policenumbers.pdf. A work group presents recommendations concerning documentation, processing and comparison of these data.

3. The role of public social control

Public social control refers to the ability of neighborhoods to solicit and secure external resources by establishing ties between neighborhoods and local governmental officials and police departments. In turn, the resources that accompany these ties should bring about reductions in crime and victimization. Public social control reduces household and personal victimization risk. In fact, public social control yields greater benefits in neighborhoods with prevalent structural disadvantage than in neighborhoods with more affluence. This enhanced effect suggests that the establishment of neighborhood ties to local public officials results in the infusion of resources, such as increased educational services for youth, needed to counteract the heightened levels of victimization found in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Although the literature on community policing shows that police departments may initiate ties to residents, such work also emphasizes the crucial role that residents play in making community policing programs successful. Source: Vélez , María B.: The Role of Public Social Control in Urban Neighbourhoods: A Multi-Level Analysis of Victimization Risk, in Criminology, Vol. 39, No.4, November 2001, p.837-864. As well another empirical study was able to prove that the ties within the community are crucial concerning the risk of victimization. The more intensive the ties are within a neighborhood, the less is the risk of being victimized – and vice versa. Source: M.R. Lee, Community cohesion and violent predatory victimization. In: Social Forces 79, 2, 2000, p.683-706. Another study on the relation between urban building structure and delinquency shows similar results. As per this study fear of crime is more determined by local characteristics (shops, certain streets) than by the real rate of crime. Source: J.H. Schweitzer, J.W. Kim, J.R. Mackin, The impact of the built environment the built environment on crime and fear of crime in urban neighborhoods. In: Journal of Urban Technology 6, 3, 1999, p.59-73.

4. Results of Online Questioning differ from Conventional Written Inquiries

A study of the Zentrum für Umfragen, Methoden und Analysen, ZUMA (Centre for interviews, methods, and analyses) deals with the problem if and how the results of online inquiries and those of the conventional written form may differ. As a result, the center found out substantial differences. Only certain target groups (persons of higher education) showed conformity. Thus online inquiries cannot be applied for the moment if a really representative cross-cut of the population (or a community) is requested. Source: Bandilla/Bosnjak/Altdorfer: Effekte des Erhebungsverfahrens? Ein Vergleich zwischen einer Web-basierten und einer schriftlichen Befragung zum ISSP-Modul Umwelt. In: ZUMA-Nachrichten 49 (November 2001), S. 7-28. http://www.gesis.org/publikationen/zeitschriften/zuma_nachrichten/zuna-inhalt-49.htm

5. Evidence-Based Crime Reduction

A report by the British Home Office tries to help police services approach crime prevention in a coherent, informed and structured way, to improve prospects for real achievement. It distils principles for effective, evidence-based practice. The application of six concepts is discussed: aims, problem-specification, tactics, mechanism, context and replication. Source: Crime Reduction Research Series Papers 11 - Working out what to do: Evidence-based crime reduction. Full Report: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/crrs11.pdf; Briefing Note: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/crrs11bn.pdf An other paper deals with the problem of homeless and school excluded young people: Police Research Series Paper 152 - 'Hard-to-Reach' Young People and Community Safety: A Model for Participatory Research and Consultation, Briefing Note http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs152bn.pdf. Community Crime Prevention is discussed by Police Research Series Paper 151 - Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships: Round one progress. Full Report: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs151.pdf , Briefing Note: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs151bn.pdf and Paper 148 - Consultation by Crime and Disorder Partnerships, Full Report http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs148.pdf

6. FBI Applies Hacker Methods

The FBI found a mafia boss guilty of gambling and credit profiteering by means of a key-board spy programme. On the computer of the suspected person a software had been installed, recording every key press. So the pass word of the suspected man’s encoding programme was spied out. It is said that the FBI is developing internet spy programmes as the anti-virus and internet protection software available have some gaps. Producers such as Symantec (www.symantec.de), however, deny this. It is controversial whether such spying is allowed in Germany.

7. Free Call Offers Help in Case of Engine Trouble, Flat Tyre or Accident

The Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (Association of German Insurers) plans to unburden the Police by installing an emergency call. Nowadays 85 p.c. of all emergency calls after accidents are made by mobile phone, and so the new „Notfon“ via the free prefix 0800 offers the possibility of direct contact to one of the 80 experts to get information about the necessary measures, to call the police and the ambulance or to order the towing service and a spare car. Furthermore, this number was installed as so-called vanity number allowing to realize phone connections by means of words. After dialling the prefix 0800, pressing the keys with the letters for "Notfon D" will automatically dial 6683663. http://www.gdv.de Source: www.geizkragen.de

8. Acoustic Monitoring: 41 out of 70 Operations fail

From 1998 by the end of 2000, 78 flats were monitored during 70 investigations, reveals a report of the Federal Government published in February 2002, whereas in 1999 alone 12,651 cases of telephone monitoring were ordered. 41 of the acoustic flat monitorings failed, with 90 p.c. of the activities were carried out because of the suspicion of drug crime. The monitoring period varied between 35 minutes and 4 weeks. Unfortunately the report only comprises 13 pages, which is rather short, as the former vice-president of the Federal Constitutional Court, Burghard Hirsch, criticized. Source: taz , 28.2.02.

9. European Crime Prevention Award

Six countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Great-Britain, Netherlands, Sweden) participated in the competition for the European Crime Prevention Award in 2001. Germany did not take part. The anti-graffity project of the Belgian town of Brügge won the first prize. The Danish contribution is called „Neuer Start“ (New Start); it is a programme against violence and aggression of young people. The English project „obstinate delinquents“ led to a decrease of 53 p.c. in recidivism of young multiple delinquents. In a Paris suburb the French organisation „Ego“ was successful in improving the living situation of drug addicts by offering assistance, incorporating the population, since 1987. This often helps them to abandon drugs. (Thanks to Helmut Koetsche).

10. A Treatment Study of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This Fact Sheet discusses the current findings of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)—which is meant to assess the effectiveness of different treatment protocols for children with the disorder—sponsored by The National Institute of Mental Health. In addition to highlighting the core symptoms of ADHD, the Fact Sheet also discusses the potential links between this disorder and juvenile delinquency. Stern, K.R. 2001 (May). A Treatment Study of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Fact Sheet. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice. http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/fs200120; pdf- file available at http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/fs200120.pdf. In Germany, a new founded society will improve scientific research into ADHS in German speaking countries: http://www.geah.de

11. Girls and Young Women in ready-to-use-force Youth Gangs

Social scientific enquiries, mainly in rightwing gangs, prove that girls within gangs may cause an increased use of force, and in individual cases they may act violently themselves. As well, criminal statistics show a significant increase in violent delinquency of girls, although their percentage is clearly smaller than that of the male juveniles. A study of the Deutsche Jugendinstitut e.V. (German Youth Institute) examines the phenomenon. The authors Kristen Bruhns and Svendy Wittmann published the results in a book titled "Ich meine, mit Gewalt kannst du dir Respekt verschaffen" (DJI publications (Gender) Opladen: Leske + Budrich 2002 292p., EUR 20,- ISBN 3-8100-3272-7). As per this study, girls and young women are defined as “appendage” of dominating young males or as “stray rebels”. For a survey see http://cgi.dji.de/cgi-bin/projekte/output.php?projekt=78.

12. Baden-Württemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen Buy New Police Equipment

Last year already Baden-Württemberg began to buy new police equipment (e,g, bullet-proof vests and protection helmets) amounting to approx. 5 million Euro. Now Nordrhein-Westfalen completes the police equipment (2.5 million Euro). In Baden-Württemberg, operation-suits by workfashion .com comprising jacket and trousers made from flame-retardant cloths are bought; functional tight fitting breeches with genital protection by Quambusch. It is worn under the operation trousers and offers effective protection against violent attacks; the conventional leather boots are replaced by water-resistant antistatic laced boots with toe protection and breathing membrane. (Haix "High Walker S 3"); the new gloves by Seiz are provided with improved cut protection, stitch and temperature resistance.

13. Counter Strike Game of the US Army

A so-called „First-Person-Shooter“ was especially designed for the US Army to go new ways in recruiting. The game is similar to “Counter Strike”, which is controversially discussed after the assassination of Erfurt. From August on, it will be distributed free via the internet, game magazines and recruiting offices. The US Army will provide 140 servers for online playing. The only difference between this game and Counter Strike: the player or his own crew respectively are always US soldiers fighting against terrorists. The player cannot choose this role; furthermore he has to qualify for certain weapons by training and drill. Source:

c´t 3.6.2002, S. 18

Finally: Learn a New Word Every Day – free!

A mailing service provides by daily e-mail a German word with the English translation and an example sentence. The service www.vokabelmail.de is free and also offers a word test.

Polizei-Newsletter Nr. 43, August 2002

The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes, Universität Bochum. The Html version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French or English version.

Good news to begin with: the Police Newsletter offers from now on even more service and information. From August on, documents which are somewhat difficult to be found can be downloaded from the Police Newsletter homepage. This service starts with a contribution by Bernd Belle and Wolfgang Nöske concerning the youth riots in French suburbs - a topic of low consideration in Germany. The authors of the Gemeinsame Zentrum der deutsch-französischen Polizei- und Zollzusammenarbeit in Offenburg (Common Centre of German-French Police and Customs Cooperation) describe appearance, causes and possibilities of combatting. The original was published in „Die Kriminalpolizei“ – thanks to this magazine for the permission of presenting this contribution online. Our readers are welcome to quote or submit interesting articles. Starting from September, the Newsletter news will be completed by an up-to-date comment on criminal politics in irregular intervals. The September topic, matching with the contribution of Belle and Nöske: aggravation of the criminal law relating to juvenile offenders in France (and in Germany, too?). „Guest comments“ are welcome! Please address to mail@thomasfeltes.de. The Police Newsletter wishes nice holidays!

1. Public Opinion and Judge Decisions – a Comparative Study

2. Consequences of “Quality-of-Life-Policing”

3. Factors Promoting Juvenile Delinquency

4. New Newsletter of the Deutsche Forum für Kriminalprävention (DFK)

5. Virus Attacks Increasing

6. Police Addressbook Baden-Württemberg in the Internet

7. Life in Germany: Study of private Households in the Federal Repbulic of Germany

8. Deviant Lifestyles Led to Being Victimized

9. Counting Crime is Impossible

10. Study on Response Time of Police Officers’ Shots

11. Tourists like risks

12. Youth Scene Warrants

13. CD-Rom about Mission Abroad UNMIK in Kosovo

14. Strategies of the Tobacco Industry to Influence Legislation against Tobacco Advertising

15. Pisa and Crime Prevention: Whole-Day-Schools Reduce Juvenile Delinquency

Finally: School and Children’s Rights – a Somewhat Different Point of View

1. Public Opinion and Judge Decisions – a Comparative Study

In a Swiss study on objective and subjective punitivity (strength of penalty), 290 crime judges and a representative population group are interviewed about four fictive cases. As a result, the population delivered harder penalties than the judges. However, the undue influence of the person most eager to punish falsifies the image of the population’s discontent with judges’ sentences. Looking more closely, it becomes evident that the majority accepts penalties less strong than imposed by the judges. Source: Crimiscope Nr. 19 (June 2002) – Öffentliche Meinung und Strenge der Richter; complete report under www.unil.ch/penal/qui/kuhn/FNRS.html

2. Consequences of “Quality-of-Life-Policing”

The study examines the impact of quality-of-life policing on crime and disorder. The findings suggest that the quality-of-life initiative exerted the strongest effect on two categories of crime and disorder: public morals and physical disorder. Diffusion of benefit and displacement effects were also observed in nearby areas. Source: C.M. Katz, V.J. Webb, D.R. Schaefer: An Assessment of the impact of Quality-Of-Life Policing on Crime and Disorder. In: Justice Quarterly 18, 4, 2001

3. Factors Promoting Juvenile Delinquency

Delinquent juveniles have been burdened by more risk factors in their lives than others. Affected by early social burdens, such as disadvantageous family conditions during childhood and adolescence, acute life crises and long-lasting burdens, as well as lower class affiliation – increase the risk, each of these facts alone, of becoming delinquent. Development disturbance as well as dissocial and/or hyper-kinetic behavioural disturbance at the age of 8 and 13 years, too, contribute to a significantly increased risks of becoming delinquent. Source: Barbara Lay u.a.: Risikofaktoren für Delinquenz bei Jugendlichen und deren Fortsetzung bis in das Erwachsenenalter. In: MschrKrim 84. Jahrgang - Heft 2, 2001, S.119-132

4. New Newsletter of the Deutsche Forum für Kriminalprävention (DFK)

Approx. ten E-Mail-Newsletter per year are issued by the DFK. In the categories "Aktuelles von der DFK-Homepage", "Präventionsnews", "Termine" und "Verschiedenes", news from authorities, governments and workgroups as well as research news are presented. The Newsletter can be subscribed via the DFK-Homepage: http://www.kriminalpraevention.de.

5. Virus Attacks Increasing

More than 1.2 million cases of virus attacks – partly - caused sincere damage in US companies. This is the result of the 20 months report of the security provider ICSA Labs. At an average, 103 attacks have been made per 1.000 monitored computers al over the country. For more details see: http://www.silicon.de/a47366. Source: www.sicherheit-im-internet.de

6. Police Addressbook Baden-Württemberg in the Internet

Not only the officials can look up all police offices in Baden-Württemberg in the intranet, but also the “rest” of the world can do so in the WWW. At http://www.inpol.de/Pav/index.html you can search alphabetically and you are given the type of office, i.e. if it is a police station or the local branch office of the criminal investigation department, as well as address and telephone number.

7. Life in Germany: Study of private Households in the Federal Republic of Germany

The SOEP is a field enquiry carried out among Germans, foreigners and immigrants in the old and new federal states every year since 1984. More than 20,000 persons in approx. 12,000 households are interviewed. The main topics are, among others, household structure, job and family biography, participation in family income and vocational mobility, income development, health and satisfaction of life. The SOEP data is submitted to university research institutions in Germany and abroad in SPSS, SAS, TDA, STATA and ASCII code. Extensive documentation material in German and English language is available under http://www.diw.de/deutsch/sop/uebersicht/

8. Deviant Lifestyles Led to Being Victimized

Crime victimization has a significant synchronous effect on deviant lifestyles, but no lagged effect. Being victimized led to deviant lifestyle around the same time, but not in the future. Deviant lifestyle leads to crime victimization only in low-crime neighborhoods. Zhang, Lening; Welte, JohnW.; Wieczorek, William F. Deviant lifestyle and crime victimization. In: Journal of Criminal Justice, 2001, 29(2), p. 133-143.

9. Counting Crime is Impossible

An essay argues that the task of counting crime is impossible. Police-recorded crime trends can consistently be explained as trends in police behaviour rather than as trends in the criminality of the public. The most damaging and traumatizing crime and personal violence, and the types that defy stereotypes of who criminals are and where crime is committed, are the most deeply hidden in our society. Pepinsky, Hal. "Living criminologically with naked emperors." Criminal Justice Policy Review 11(1), 2000, p. 6-15.

10. Study on Response Time of Police Officers’ Shots

This study inquires into the speed at which an officer can react with accurate shot after a visual clue, as compared to the speed of typical movement by suspects that would trigger an officer's response with a firearm. Officers with specialized firearms training had faster response times than did those without such training. Findings failed to clearly delineate, however whether more proficiency (more practice), higher skill level (instructor background), or both caused the better response times. Yet these faster times are essentially meaningless in that the officers were still at a disadvantage when compared with the suspect's movement time. Response time can vary dramatically because it is the combination of reaction time (a mental process and movement time (a physical process). Hontz, Thomas A. Justifying the deadly force response. Police Quarterly 1999, 2(4), p. 462-476.

11. Tourists Like Risks

The author examines the fear of victimization from the tourists' perspective. A national sample of British people were surveyed about their holiday. As in other studies, tourist victimization rates were high. Although many people took safety into account in choosing a holiday area or country, few considered crime or disorder as a problem when they subsequently went on holiday. The risk-fear paradox contends that fear exceeds risk, yet in the case of tourism and crime, it appears that risk exceeds fear. The results point to the importance of crime prevention and community safety as policy priorities. Mawby, R.I., Tourists' perceptions of security: The risk-fear paradox. Tourism Economics 2000, 6(2), p. 109-121

12. Youth Scene Warrants

www.jugendszenen.com presents scene warrants, thus allowing glances at and glimpses on exciting living styles. The aim of the providers at the professorate for General Sociology of Prof. Dr. Hitzler (www.hitzler-soziologie.de ) at the University of Dortmund is the successive presentation of as many as possible current youth scenes. jugendszenen.com is based on excessive research activities.

13. CD-Rom about Mission Abroad UNMIK in Kosovo

A member of the Police in Niedersachsen offers a PowerPoint CD with 1,000 pictures from Kosovo: landscape, people, towns and villages, vehicles etc. – especially, of course, of the peacekeepers coming from 53 nations. Included are all internet information about Kosovo, the UNMIK, everything you may need for preparing a foreign mission or for your information about the region. Suitable for Windows. Price 10 Euro including postage from Michael Inderwisch, iwi56@web.de

14. Strategies of the Tobacco Industry to Influence Legislation against Tobacco Advertising

During the past, the tobacco industry tried to influence EU legislation on prohibiting tobacco advertisement via various EU member states (especially Germany). Margaret Thatcher, e.g., was given 250,000 pounds by Philip Morris immediately after retiring from the Prime Minister office. The strategies and their success are described in a contribution of Mark Neumann, Asaf Bitton and Stanton Glantz in „The Lancet“ April 2002, p. 1323 ff.; www.thelancelet.com

15. Pisa and Crime Prevention: Whole-Day-Schools Reduce Juvenile Delinquency

As per US long-term studies, preschools and whole-day-schools are helpful for children and juveniles living in a disadvantageous social situation. The “Perry Preschool Project” proved that every dollar invested into the preschool programme earned seven dollars – increased tax returns caused by increased occupation (of the mothers) not to mention. A recent study from Zurich reveals a relation of 1:4. Furthermore, the US study shows that children from lower social classes participating in classical preschool projects are significantly less endangered to become delinquent and tend to have higher wages in their future lives. Source: Conference „Zukunftsfaktor Kinder“ des Bundesministeriums für Familie (the Federal Ministry of Family), Berlin, June 2002.

Finally: School and Children’s Rights – a Somewhat Different Point of View

From a very biassed point of view, KRÄTZA (KinderRächtsZänker enlightens the topic children, children’s rights and school. Under http://www.kraetzae.de/schule.htm you will find, however, some interesting arguments and documents (e.g. concerning Summerhill and other alternative school projects). The Website is presented in English, Spanish and Esperanto!

Police Newsletter No. 44, September 2002

The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French or English version, and very soon even the Spanish issue.

As announced in the August issue: the Police Newsletter offers from now on even more service and information; documents which are somewhat difficult to be found can be downloaded from the Police Newsletter homepage, and starting in September 2002, the newsletter will be completed by a short up-to-date comment on crime politics in irregular intervals. „Guest comments“ and contributions are welcome! Please send to mail@thomasfeltes.de.

1. Global Organ Trade

2. Computer-Supported Questioning in Bremen and Baden- Württemberg

3. Police Use of Force – Framework by the Canadian Police

4. Two studies on protective and crime-risk factors

5. Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Victimization

6. Apprenticeship via Internet – a Study

7. Study “Policing for London” published

8. Boston: Decrease in Juvenile Gun Violence

9. Paradoxical Result of a Prevention Project: Violence Against Elderly Increases

10. Qualitative Methods of Researching Organisations

11. Effects of TV Advertising

12. The Visual Identification of Suspects

13. Bearing Transmitter Finds Lost Things

1. Global Organ Trade

After the internet auctioneer Ebay planned to sell by auction the kidney of a Californian woman at 5,7 Mio. US$ and then stopped the offer, the discussion focusses on the international organ trade. On the global black market a kidney is easily sold at 100,000 Dollar – this is equal to the life income of a third world inhabitant. In South Africa, e.g., people who died in gunfights with the police are „cannibalized“. „Organs Watch“, an initiative of the University of California is going to stop this by monitoring the market: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/biotech/organswatch Source: Zukunftsletter 7/2002

2. Computer-Supported Questioning in Bremen and Baden- Württemberg

Analysing the citizens’ wishes and expectations towards police is a prerequisite for good police work. Many police authorities have been collecting these information by way of mailing for several years. In Bremen, e.g., three kinds of questioning have been institutionalised: a general citizens’ questioning (since 1997), a citizens contact questioning – an investigation asking for direct contact with the police (in 2001 data of 778 interviewed persons) and interviews of passers-by. The results of the general citizens questioning can be looked up on the homepage of the police of Bremen, then follow the link to ‚Bremer Sicherheitsatlas’. Additionally, in April 2002 Bremen started a pilot project „Bürgerbefragung online“ (citizens’ questioning online): under http://www.bremen.de/ (follow the link under ‚Aktuelles‘ concerning the questioning) or http://www.polizei.bremen.de/ interested persons find the questionnaire and may participate. While Bremen thus realizes a so-called “internet questioning” showing certain methodical problems (certain groups are excluded from the beginning), Baden-Württemberg carries out representative questioning on police direction level. From January 2003 on, the police offices will be equipped with a computer programme enabling them to carry our representative quesitonings. Contact: for Bremen Ulrich Goritzka, Diplomkriminologe, Fachdirektion Controlling, Tel.: 0421/36212077 e-mail: ulrich.goritzka@polizei.bremen.de. The project in Baden-Württemberg is being developped. Information from Rainer Belz (rainer@rm-belz.de).

3. Police Use of Force – Framework by the Canadian Police

If you go to www.cacp.ca and click on “The CACP National Use of Force Framework", you will find the framework for use of force by police which has recently been endorsed by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

4. Two studies on protective and crime-risk factors

One of the rare empiric studies not dealing with risk factors but protective factors examines why some high-risk youths refrain from, or only involved in minor forms of, problem behaviours. Protective factors only have trivial independent effects; however, the cumulative effects are significant across multiple measures of resiliency. Source: Turner, Michael G. Good kids in bad circumstances: A longitudinal analysis of resilient youth. Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms International, 2000 (Dissertation, University of Cincinnati). Another study examines the interrelationship between economic and social stress, parental competence and crime-prone communities. Economic and social stress create fertile conditions for the development of crime-prone communities, not because they drive otherwise law-abiding people into crime, but because they are corrosive of the quality of parenting in a way which renders juveniles more susceptible to delinquent peer influence. The results confirm the importance of parenting and peer influence as mediators of the relationship between disadvantage and crime. Evidence suggests that economic stress exerts a very disruptive effect on the parenting process, increasing the risk that parents will neglect or abuse their children or engage in discipline that is harsh, erratic, and/or inconsistent. The children of families exposed to economic and social stress are more likely to become involved in crime. Source: Weatherburn, Don; Lind, Bronwyn. Delinquent-prone communities. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2001 (Cambridge Criminology Series).

5. Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Victimization

The study analyses National Youth Survey (NYS) data to explore how being a victim of crime during adolescence affects the likelihood of certain negative outcomes in adulthood, including violent and property offending and victimization, domestic violence perpetration and victimization, drug use, and mental health problems. The NYS data reflect approximately 1.700 respondents' experiences at ages 11–17 and 21–29. Source: Menard, Scott: Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Victimization. Youth Violence Research Series Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Pdf-file: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/191210.pdf

6. Apprenticeship via Internet – a Study

A study by David Fabianic deals with the increasing number of online lessons and teaching aids. He describes the attempt to integrate websites in his lesons; he made students test various websites containing criminological topics. Concerning „Organized Crime“, the following websites rank best: „La Cosa Nostra“ (http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/9880/), „Da Mob“ (http://www.geocities.com/jayhoff22_2000/page3.html), the Homepage of the US Ministry of Justice (http://www.usdoj.gov/ ) and „Murder Inc.“ (http://www.murderinc.com/), and concerning „Serial Murder“ the „Crime Library“ (http://www.crimelibrary.com/), the „Crime Magazine“ (http://www.crimemagazine.com/) and the „Casebook: Jack the Ripper“ (http://www.casebook.org/dissertations/dst-barn.html). Source: David Fabianic, Online Instruction and Site Assessent. In: Journal of Criminal Justice Education 13, 1, 2002, p. 173-186

7. Study “Policing for London” published

An 8-pages-summary is available at http://www.sbu.ac.uk/cpru/findings.pdf. The study itself at www.policingforlondon.org (not always available).

8. Boston: Decrease in Juvenile Gun Violence

The “Operation Ceasefire” by scientists and practicians made decrease gun violence. A 78-pages report by David M. Kennedy and others describes the strategy and the success: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/188741.htm

9. Paradoxical Result of a Prevention Project: Violence Against Elderly Increases

Within the framework of a New York pilot project the attempt was made to reduce violence against elderly. A police officer and a specially trained counselour visited the family for some days after the police had recorded an incident. Contrary to all expectations the evaluation revealed that victims being attended and given information leaflets more often reported physical abuse than others not being attended. Robert C. Davis, Juanjo Medina-Ariza, Results from an Elderly Abuse Prevention Experiment in New York, www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/188675.htm. This result may be explained by the increased sensitivity of the elderly people towards this form of violence, thanks to the project. TF

10. Qualitative Methods of Researching Organisations

The interest in qualitative methods of research in general and organisational research in particular is increasing after the “hard” quantitative methods ( e.g. standardized representative questioning) were not as successful as expected and as they rarely allow profound understanding of processes. This is possible by means of qualitative methods (e.g . expert interviews, focus group interviews, participating observation). A book published by Kühl and Strodtholz deals with these methods (Reinbek 2002, rororo, € 17.90). It is completed by the online portal www.qualitative-research.net, presenting additional texts, discussion groups and further contributions (partly in English and Spanish).

11. Effects of TV Advertising

TV advertising is effective: an evaluation of 40 advertising campaigns in German private TV revealed an increase in selling rate by 30 p.c. within the first days after the campaign. 4,500 households were interviewed. The more spots are seen, the more the selling rates increase, especially if there is a high “advertising pressure", i.e. many spots within a short period. Excessive TV watchers show a significant increase within a short period, and soon a decrease again. The opposite effect is observed with people who watch TV seldom. Source: SevenOne Media, Wer wirbt gewinnt, München 2001. Source: Media Perspektiven 4/2002, p. 192 ff..

12. The Visual Identification of Suspects

A suspect description is used as a source of evidence in 43% of “primary detected” burglary cases, as s study by Coupe and Griffiths showed some years ago. A recent study by Graham Pike et. al. for the British Home Office aimed to identify the key obstacles to the timely and effective post-arrest identification of suspect and tried to identify examples of good practice or changes to policy and practice which might overcome some of these obstacles. The research is part of a programme titled “Using computer technology to make to most of identification evidence”, due to be finished in April 2002. Source: Home Office, Briefing Note 2/02, March 2002.

13. Bearing Transmitter Finds Lost Things

A chip as small as a finger-nail can be stuck to all things which are easily misplaced. At a radius of 5 metres the bearing transmitter will find them. Up to 256 objects can be marked. The complete set costs € 90: www.dipo.fr (English and French).

The Crime-Political Short Comment

Today on the aggravation of the criminal law (relating to juvenile offenders) and the introduction of “neighbourhood tribunals” in France. It’s hard to believe: The mid-right government in France introduces “neighbourhood tribunals”. Similar to this, the GDR had „gesellschaftliche Gerichte“ (social tribunals) by 1989, and the reactions of western politicians varied from sceptical to shocked: lay-judges are charged to settle every-day conflicts and are entitled to impose sanctions in case of smaller offences – this is why they were called arbitration commissions in the GDR. Are the French judicial politicians aware of this “theft”? At the same time, the French government aggravates the criminal law relating to juvenile offenders and builds new prisons amounting to € 3.65 milliards. Furthermore 13,500 new jobs will be created only in the field of repression. Prevention? No. One more time, criminology could not make itself useful.

Police Newsletter Nr. 45, Oktober 2002

As announced in the August-Letter: The Police Newsletter now offers even more service and information: documents which are somewhat difficult to be found can be downloaded from the Police Newsletter homepage, and from September 2002 on, the Newsletter news is completed by an up-to-date comment on criminal politics in irregular intervals. Our readers are welcome to quote or submit interesting articles. Please send to mail@thomasfeltes.de.

1. Female Police Officers have lower scores in firearm shooting than men.

2. Police Image in Newspaper

3. More and more expelled husbands in Austria

4. Improved Street Lighting reduces Crime

5. Crime reduction by CCTV: Only minor effects

6. Rented Prisoners for Party Service

7. Zero tolerance makes schools less safe

8. Studies of the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin

9. Task Force against Corruption in NRW (North-Rhine Westfalia)

10. Cooperation of Social Youth's Assistence and Police

11. Videogames and aggressive Behaviour

12. Empirical Study on the Skinhead Movement

13. New Institut für Polizei- und Sicherheitsforschung (IPOS) (Institute for Police and Security Research)

1. Female Police Officers have lower scores in firearm shooting than men.

The study showed, that firearm training significantly improved the markmanship of all recruits. Women´s scores, however, remained slightly but significantly lower than men´s. The difference appeared to be due to women´s lower grip strength. One way to bring women´s skills up to the level of men´s would be to issue female officers a weapon that is suited for their grip strength and hand size. Source: M.T. Charles, A.G. Copay: Markmanship skills of female police recruits: Impact of basic firearm training. In: International Journal of Police Science and Management, 3, 4, 2001, p. 303-308.

2. Police Image in Newspapers

In 1998, 2,577 articles of four German newspapers (FAZ, SZ, Bild und taz) were examined to find out how these newspapers reported about police and police work. The study proceeded from the assumption that media generally report negatively about police. Style, length and placing of the article were checked to examine this thesis. As a result the study revealed that the police image transferred is neutral with a slightly positive tendency, with the Bild-Zeitung reporting more positively than the other three newspapers. So the thesis of bad press can no longer be maintained. Source: Kriminalistik 06/2002, S. 366 – 371.

3. More and more expelled husbands in Austria

The 10-days ban of return for violent husbands which was introduced to fight domestic violence by Federal Law in Austria in 1997 and which has become model for German arrangements has proved useful. By end of 2001, this ban was applied in 13,835 cases – seven times per day. The law-court can extend the ban to 3 months, in case of divorce even until the end of the proceedings. Nevertheless, more and more women are looking for help in Women's refuges and institutions and the number of violent men banished from home is increasing. The explanation of the phenomenon is better training of police officers, increased application of the law and increasing knowledge about institutions. However, there still is significant town country descent. Source: Der Standard (Österreich) 31.7.2002; for further information see www.bmi.gv.at and www.frauenhelpline.at. An extensive collection of information from Germany concerning protection against violence and domestic violence with many links and online documents is available under: http://www.vafk.de/Gewaltschutz.

3. EU Research and Promotion Programmes

Surveys and links concerning various EU promotion programmes are offered on these sites: http://www.uni-kassel.de/wiss_tr/europa/ (Uni Kassel), http://www.uni-kassel.de/wiss_tr/fundinfo.ghk (electronic net services Europe and USA), http://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/bif/EU-funding.htm (Uni Bochum), http://www.ttz.uni-magdeburg.de/forschung/europa.htm (Uni Magdeburg; survey on important research sponsors in Europe – from EU to NATO) and http://europa.eu.int/index_de.htm (EU-online). The Council of the European Union decided a new frame programme for police and judicial cooperation in criminal cases on 22 July 2002 and published it on 01 August 2002 in "Amtsblatt" (Beschluss L 203/5). It is to replace the well-known EU programmes (Grotius II Criminal Law, STOP II, OISIN II, Hippokrates and Falcone). The programme is planned for the period from 01 Januar 2003 until 31 December 2007. Projects of maximum two years can be co-financed, if partners from three member states or from two member states and an applicant state pursue the programmes's targets. http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/de/dat/2002/l_203/l_20320020801de00050008.pdf (Source: DFK-Newsletter).

4. Improved Street Lighting reduces Crime

A meta-analysis found that improved lighting led to reductions in crime with an overall reduction of 20% in experimental areas compared with control areas. In two studies, the financial savings from reduced crimes greatly exceeded the financial costs of the improved street lighting. Since nighttime crimes did not decrease more than daytime crimes, a theory focusing on the role of street lighting in increasing community pride seems more plausible than a theory focusing on increased surveillance. Source: D. Farrington, B. Welsh: Improved Street Lighting and Crime Prevention. In: Justice Quarterly 19, 2, 2002, p. 313-342. For a review of other studies see also the 60-pages paper: Home Office Research Study 251 - Effects of improved street lighting on crime: a systematic review http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors251.pdf

5. Crime reduction by CCTV: Only minor effects

A systematic review on crime prevention by closed circuit television (CCTV) provides a 68-pages paper by the British Home Office: Home Office Research Study 252 - Crime prevention effects of closed circuit television: a systematic review.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors252.pdf (192K) Results provide a clearer picture of the crime prevention effectiveness of CCTV. From 18 evaluations it was conducted that CCTV had a significant desirable effect on crime, although the overall reduction in crime was a very small four per cent. It was also found that CCTV had no effect on violent crimes, but had a significant effect on vehicle crimes. In the city centre and public housing areas, CCTV led to a negligible reduction of crime; for public transport, the results were mixed (some studies showed effects, others none); in car parks, the significant reduction in crime was 41 per cent. Overall, it might be concluded that CCTV reduces crime only to a small degree.

As well a German essay discusses the effects of CCTV in public areas and makes conclusions concerning application in Germany. Source: H.E. Müller, Zur Kriminologie der Videoüberwachung. In: MSchrKrim 85, 1, 02, S.33 ff. Further links (some of them critical): Aktuelle Kamera: Bremer Projekt gegen Videoüberwachung www.aktuelle-kamera.de; Chaos Circuit Television. a project of Chaos Computer Club Köln www.koeln.ccc.de/projekte/cctv/; Open Eye. against monitoring public areas www.kapsobor.de/auge/; German project against video monitoring www.stop1984.com/index2.php; Surveillance Camera Players. Completely distrustful of all governments www.notbored.org/the-scp.html; English Citizens' Rights Organisation against monitoring (gives the Big Brother Award) www.privacyinternational.org/

English site against monitoring www.spy.org.uk/cgi-bin/spy.pl

Source of the links: http://www.jura.tu-dresden.de/ls/ls_hefen/content/service/links.php

KK/TF

6. Rented Prisoners for Party Service

Prisons have always sold their products such as wooden toys, furniture etc. – now the Bundesland Niedersachsen offers something new: juvenile prisoners from Göttingen can be rented as workers or party service: www.jva-shop.de; available at www.knast.net: a ranking of German prisons made by prisoners, visitors, and staff members, similar to the 5-star hotel system, as well as lots of information about the penal system and rich archives.

7. Zero tolerance makes schools less safe

Recent research indicates that as schools adopt more zero-tolerance policies they in fact become less safe. The collection of 20 articles is intended to serve as a handbook for practitioners and others in the fight against militarization of schools. The authors focus on the ways zero tolerance seeks to obscure the criminalization and fear of youths. Source: W. Ayers, B. Dohrn, R. Ayers (eds.) : Zero tolerance : Resisting the drive for punishment in our schools. New York (New Press) 2001 (263 p.)

8. Studies of the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin

In irregular intervals, the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB)(Science Center for Social Research) publishes studies, which are interesting from the criminological police-scientifical point of view. The latest publication is a study on violence and growing-up in urban areas, investigating health consequences of urban violence, especially for juveniles. (in English by Susanne Jordan, Violence and Adolescence in Urban Settings: A Public Health Approach (WZB P01-207)). Concerning international girl trade, Dietmar Jazbinsek published a very fascinating 95-pages biography taking into account the historical development. (in German; WZB FS II 02-501). „Korruption in Bewerberländern zur Europäischen Union“ (Corruption in EU applicant countries) is the topic of a study by Jan Delhey (WZB FS III 02-401). The above mentioned studies can be ordered from: Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, Pressestelle, Reichpietschufer 50, D-10785 Berlin , quoting the reference number and including a 56-cent (0,56 Euro) stamp per paper. Foreign orders have to include a „Coupon-Réponse International“ per paper. The WZB quarterly publishes „WZB-Mitteilungen“, which can be ordered free of charge at the Pressestelle des WZB: presse@wz-berlin.de . "WZB-Forschung" can be subscribed as pdf file, if you send an e-mail containing the text line "subscribe wzb-forschung" to: maiser@medea.wz-berlin.de. So you will automatically be included into the mailing-list and receive the latest issue thrice per year.

9. Task Force against Corruption in NRW (North-Rhine Westfalia)

Starting in August 2002, the NRW Ministry of the Interior is going to fight against corruption with a special investigation department. The expert team consists of three public prosecutors, four police officers, three price investigators v, and two tax investigators. The Task Force can be contacted in case of confidential hints about corruption. Public Prosecutor and police will not be called in before the hints prove to be true. 65 of the 130 hints given by mid August 2002 refer to the erection of waste incineration plants. Untersuchungsstab.antikorruption@im.nrw.de www.im.nrw.de/korruptionsbekämpfung

10. Cooperation of Social Youth's Assistence and Police

The cooperation of social workers and police which was distrusted in the past is the topic of a more theoretical contribution of Holger Ziegler, especially discussing the latest crime preventing activities and development in security policy. Source: Holger Ziegler, Crimefighters United – Zur Kooperation von Jugendhilfe und Polizei. In: Neue Praxis 6, 2001, S. 538-556

11. Videogames and aggressive Behaviour

Two studies by the University of Missouri/USA proved a significant connection between consuming aggressive video games and aggressive behaviour and delinquency. Source: C.A. Anderson, K.E. Dill, Video Games and Aggressive Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior in the Laboratory and in Life. In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 78, 4, 2000, S.772-790; online at http://www.apa.org/journals/psp/psp784772.html . An inspiring contribution (in German) by Klaus Merten, Professor of communication of the University of Münster concerning “Gewalt und Medien” available at http://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/archiv/07-02/index.html

12. Empirical Study on the Skinhead Movement

Violent skinheads seem to suffer from serious psychic disturbance, as per a study of the university of Lausanne. According to this study (n=295), one out of five skinheads has to be considered to be "very violent". The checked group consisted of non-delinquent racialists, (32 p.c.), persons dangerous for strangers (violent criminals and incendiaries) (36%) and non-racialist and non-dangerous skinheads(32%). Source: R. Vignando, H. Haas, Die Skinhead Bewegung: Eine empirische Studie. Crimiscope 15, 2001.

13. New Institut für Polizei- und Sicherheitsforschung (IPOS) (Institute for Police and Security Research)

Within the Police department of the Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Bremen, the „Institut für Polizei- und Sicherheitsforschung – IPOS“ was founded in late 2001. It is to make a practice-orientated contribution in the field of research, development and their realisation in teaching and continued education. Its members are lecturers of the university as well as external experts. Source: Amtsblatt der Freien und Hansestadt Bremen vom 4. März 2002 (thanks to E. Dahle).

Police-Newsletter No. 45, November 2002

The Police Newsletter now offers even more service and information: documents which are somewhat difficult to be found can be downloaded from the Police Newsletter homepage, and from September 2002 on, the Newsletter news is completed by a short up-to-date comment on criminal politics in irregular intervals. Our readers are welcome to quote or submit interesting articles. Please send to mail@thomasfeltes.de.

The following contributions are offered at present:

* Belle/Nöske: Vorstadtunruhen in französischen Großstädten

* Janos Sallai: Before the EU accession waiting for Schengen. The criminal geography of the ukrainian-hungarian border in the nineties.

* Eduardo Paes Machado und Carlos Linhares de Albuquerque: Jungle i.d.: Educational Reform inside the Brazilian Paramilitary Police

* Udo Behrendes: Interview zum “Kölner Polizeiskandal”

1. USA spend billions of dollars on drugs each year

A US study titled "The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States, 1992-1998" reveals that in 1998 costs amounting to $143 billions were caused by drug abuse and there are more than $160 billions expected for 2000. The greatest part to these sums is caused by the loss in productivity due to imprisonment, illness and death of the drug consumers. http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/economic_costs98.pdf Another study analyses the drug price and the problem of purity: "The Price of Illicit Drugs: 1981 Through the Second Quarter of 2000" (122 pp.) (NCJ 190639) (only available online, too). Prices and purity of cocaine, heroine, and amphetamines are illuminated. http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/price_illicit.pdf

2. Expert opinion on the effect of crime prevention

The town of Düsseldorf had an expert opinion made which is now presented. It is about the research of crime prevention and its effects as well as the guide lines developed from the expert opinion 'Leitlinien wirkungsorientierter Kriminalprävention'. The document (457 pages, 2.25 MB) can be downloaded at www.duesseldorf.de/download/dg.pdf , the guide lines (73 pages, 0.4 MB) at www.duesseldorf.de/download/dgll.pdf.

TF (Thanks to M. Leye)

3. Complete list of criminal offences planned in the UK

There are plans in England to set up a complete list of criminal offences in order to facilitate research concerning criminality and recidivism. The list is to comprise information from police, law-courts, execution authorities and probation assistance. For detailed information see www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/rfpubs1.html.

4. Classifying Juveniles in the Justice System.

"Statistical Approaches to Assessing Risk" (2 pp.) (FS200206) explains how risk scales are created and used to help decisionmakers classify juveniles on the basis of expected behavior. The juvenile justice system often uses these statistical tools to predict a juvenile's potential for recidivism or successful program completion. (OJJDP) Access full text:

www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/fact.html#fs200206

5. Effects of vegetation on crime in the inner city

Two studies examine whether natural elements, such as trees and grass, can decrease crime and aggression. The first one presents theory and evidence to suggest that high-canopy trees and grass may actually work to deter crime in inner-city neighborhoods. Crime rates were compared for 98 apartment buildings in Chicago with varying levels of nearby vegetation. The greener a building`s surroundings, the fewer number of total crimes were reported. In addition the second study tests a potential mechanism by which natural features and other environmental features may affect aggression. Residents living in „green“ conditions reported significantly less overall aggression against their partners than did their counterparts living in barren conditions. Levels of mental fatigue, assessed with a standardized neurocognitive measure, were also found to be higher in barren buildings, and aggression accompanied mental fatigue. Tests for the proposed mechanism indicated that the relationship between nearby nature and aggression was fully mediated through attentional functioning. Source: Kuo, Frances E.; Sullivan, Williams C.: „Environment and crime in the inner city: Does vegetation reduce crime?“ Environment & Behavior (ISSN: 0013-9165), 33 (3): 343-367, 2001. Kuo, Frances E.; Sullivan, William C.: „Aggression and violence in the inner city: Effects of environment via mental fatigue.“ Environment and Behavior (ISSN: 0013-9165), 33(4): 543-571, 2001.

6. After-school programs reduce juvenile crime

For each high-risk youth prevented from adopting a life of crime, experts estimate the economy saves between $ 1.7 million and $ 2.3 million. The positive effects of after-school programs in reducing the criminal victimization of children. Quality child care and early education can greatly reduce crime. Source: www.fightcrime.org

7. Gesellschaft für Forensische Chemie und Toxikologie in the Web

The Gesellschaft für Toxikologische und Forensische Chemie (GTFCh) (Society of Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry) was founded in 1978 by representatives of toxicology, forensic medicine and criminal technology from various European countries. Their aim is to coordinate and promote the scientific activities within forensic chemistry as well as within forensic and clinical toxicology. The website www.gtfch.org offers surveys on working groups, conference programmes and Manuskripte as pdf-files (e.g. a recent one concerning coca tea in tea-bags). One of GTFCh's aims is to draw public attention to the fact that faulty findings are possible and to show ways to avoid mistakes or to recognize faulty findings. Everyone can take part in so-called ring tests taking into account special aspects of forensic analysis. (Thanks to Beat Aebi for this information)

8. Effects of anti-discrimination measures on the unemployment rate

A study of the British Home Office offers a comprehensive survey on the international differences in combating minority discrimination. It reveals that, especially in European countries, measures against racial discrimination and racialist offences are insufficient. The study proves a connection between the extent of anti-discrimination measures and the decreasing rate of unemployed ethnic minority members as well as better vocational training for these people (especially in Great-Britain and the Netherlands) http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors238.pdf

9. High income inequality results in criminality

A study based on data from Baden-Württemberg shows that the expected gain out of illegal deals encourages criminality, whereas legal earnings opportunities reduce the rate of offences against property (but not the rate of violent offences). The higher income inequality, the higher is the rate of delinquency (this is true for Baden-Württemberg), with the conditions in the nearby communities playing an important role. Furthermore it turned out that offenders' mobility increases along with the inequality among the communities and the segregation of the population. Source: MschrKrim 85, 1, 2002, S. 1-19

9. Legal income and expected gain from offences

A study with data from Baden-Württemberg (Germany) could show a positive association with the expected gain from offences and a negative impact of legal earnings opportunities and indicate a positive impact of local inequality. Crime spillovers increase with spatial inequality and the sorting of population. Source: T. Büttner, H. Spengler, Lokale Determinanten der Kriminalität und Tätermobilität. In: MschrKrim 85, 1, 2002, S. 1-19

10. Violence and shotguns in schools – US experience

For a long time already the use of shot guns in schools has been considered to be a problem. A study of the US Secret Service (!) evaluated 37 incidents with 41 offenders involved. It is underligned how important it is to offer preventive assistance to pupils who suffer from problems, fail exams or are apparently desperate. Source: U.S. Secret Service, National Threat Assessment Center: USSS Safe School Initiative: An Interim Report on the Prevention of Targeted Violence in Schools, Washington 2000 (summery in: NIJ-Journal 248, 2002, S. 10-15); information about the National Threat Assessment Center at www.treas.gov/usss/ntac

11. The danger of tired police officers

A new study of the Police Executive Research Forum deals with the underestimated problem of fatigue of police offices. Whereas fatigue is considered a problem in other service professions today, it is largely denied within the police. Source: V. Vila, D.J. Kenney, Tired Cops: The Prevalence and Potential Consequences of Police Fatique. In: NIJ-Journal 248, 2002, S. 16-21). Several million US$ are spent on the research of this problem and its solution. For information about a programme since 1994 dealing with the negative consequences of job and family stress of police officers see www.ojp.usdoj/nij/clefs/welcome.html. For details about the NASA Ames Research Center Fatique Countermeasures Group as well concerned with this problem see http://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/zteam. To test your job fitness (Fitness-for-Duty Impairment Schreener – FIT) see www.pmifit.com

12. Health consequences of criminal victimization

Victims of both violent and property crime reported lower levels of perceived health and physical well being, controlling for measures of injury and for sociodemographic characteristics. Younger violent crime victims experienced relatively greater decreases in perceived health. Sample: 2.430 households in Illinois. Source: C.L. Britt: Health consequences of criminal victimization. In: International Review of Victimization, 81, 1, 2001, p. 63-73.

The November short comment

France plans to build new prisons – a repetition of the American experience?

During the last years, the USA were the country to make use of the penal system most aggressively – even more than Russia, White-Russia and South-Africa. Now this policy seems to spread to Europe, too. The French government will invest 3.65 milliard Euro in new prisons and thus follow the American example. The number of prisoners has steadily been increasing during the last two decades. At present the efficiency of combating criminality without any educational programmes for reintegration during and after imprisonment is discussed extremely controversially. In spite of the fact that there are nearly 50 p.c. illiterates in some prisons, the authorities in charge do not even think about supporting measures for the prisoners. The enthusiasm to imprison people is in a certain correlation to the absolute ignorance towards the prisoners during and after they have served their sentence ( i.e. 28 months on an average). Needless to say that for most ex-prisoners the period of imprisonment remains a burden for the rest of their lives, especially if they try to take up an occupation or change the job. Many of them tend to return to the environment where they were before they came into conflict with the law – which was partly caused by this environment. The consequence is that many of them concentrate at certain places: in 3 p.c. of Cleveland's living areas, 20 p.c. of the state's ex-prisoners are living. Some politicians now realize the problem. The Justice Department allocates 100 million dollar in order to support released prisoners. Furthermore some non-government organisations are allowed in some prisons to provide job training courses. But what does this mean in view of the 54,000 billion dollar per year spent on the whole prison system? Building prisons is the one thing. Considering the source and the personal history of the prisoners during their imprisonment, in view of starting a new life, is quite another. The French authorities in charge should well keep this in mind if they want to avoid stigmatising and support social reintegration.

Blaise Bonvin, TC Geneva

Police-Newsletter No. 47, December 2002

The Police Newsletter now offers even more service and information: documents which are somewhat difficult to be found can be downloaded from the Police Newsletter homepage, and in irregular intervals the Newsletter is completed by a short up-to-date comment on crime policy. Our readers are welcome to quote or submit interesting articles. Please send to mail@thomasfeltes.de.

1. Rural Crime rates still lower than urban crime rates in GB

2. Emotionally disturbed persons and police – new strategies in the U.S.

3. List of current projects being undertaken at the Max Planck Institute in Germany on the web

4. Special Report on Drug Abuse of pharmaceutical opiates

5. Children disposed to family violence - new U.S. projects

6. Feelings about crime are changing in France

7. "Cubus" passes culture scientific knowledge

8. Invention of television and homicide rates

9. Income inequality and homicide rates

10. Citizens support aggressive traffic enforcement by police

11. Management by self-confidence

12. Electronic weapon with safety-code

13. Federal standards for Swiss police training

1. Rural Crime rates still lower than urban crime rates in GB

The report looks at the levels of crime and peoples fear of crime in rural areas. It confirms that rural areas continue to experience lower levels of crime. However, it is apparent that rural areas did experience a sharper rise in crime than cities. People living in rural areas remain more positive about crime levels, their own risks of victimisation and the performance of their local police than do their non-rural counterparts. Rebbecca Aust, Jon Simmons, Rural Crime, March 2002. Home Office Statistical Bulletin 1/02 - Rural Crime, England and Wales http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb102.pdf

2. Emotionally disturbed persons and police – new strategies in the U.S.

Within the last years several emotionally disturbed persons were killed during police actions and in some cases police authorities were condemned to pay high compensation. So attempts have been made for some time to fit police training and equipment to these situations. In Seattle alone, US$ 350,000 were spent on this purpose after an incident in 2000. Source: H.J. Steadman et al.: Police Response to Emotionally Disturbed Persons. See www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij Email of the author: hsteadman@prainc.com

3. List of current projects being undertaken at the Max Planck Institute in Germany on the web

At http://www.iuscrim.mpg.de/forsch/krim/k_index_e.html#Administration. Of these, the EU funds the following: Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Confiscation Legislation in Europe, The Double Construction of Crime Patterns of Definition and of Organization of Crime in Two European Cities, and Risk Assessment and Crime Prevention.

4. Special Report on Drug Abuse of pharmaceutical opiates

In “Pulse Check” by the „Office of National Drug Control Policy” experts describe patterns in drug use, particularly the emerging problem of diversion and abuse of OxyContin, a high-dose formulation of the pharmaceutical opiate oxycodone. www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/druffact/pulsechk/fall2001/index.html

5. Children disposed to family violence - new U.S. projects

If children witness family violence or are affected themselves, this is an important risk factor to become violent or even for various psychic difficulties. US police has closely been observing this problem for years, laws have been changed and now the prosecutor's importance is increasingly realized. A recent study of the US Ministry of Justice presents strategies and underlines how important it is for the prosecutors to deal with this topic and describes the progress in cooperation between police, prosecutor and social services. The examples are more than an impulse for the German situation. Source: D. Whitcomb, Prosecutors, Kids, and Domestic Violence Cases. In: NIJ-Journal 248, 2002, S.2-9. The complete report „Children and Domestic Violence: Challenges for Prosecutors" can be ordered at US$ 15.- from http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/jr000248b.pdf Email of the author: dabra.whitcomb@ndaa-apri.org .

6. Feelings about crime are changing in France

Philippe Robert and Marie-Lys Pottier analysed fear of crime in France during the period from the mid-1970 to the mid 1990s, and now until 2000. For the authors, the found drop on concern about crime between 1996 and 1999 reflected the loss of substance registered in the concern about crime/xenophobia/punitiveness trio, found in attitudes favoring the extreme-right or ultra-rightist positions. The rise in 2000 indicates the emergence of concern about crime as a new, independent concern. People admit their concern with crime more readily and, above all, such concern is no longer affected with what used to be a systematic link with xenophobia and punitiveness, which two opinions have experienced a much more serious decline. Admitting one´s concern with crime thus becomes more acceptable in that form for some categories of people who formerly hesitated to proclaim it. Source: Are feelings about crime changing? In: Penal Issues (CESDIP) 13, 2002, S.15-17; www.cesdip.msh-paris.fr

7. "Cubus" passes culture scientific knowledge

The Ruhr University Bochum is one of the first universities to offer their culture scientific knowledge to trade, industry and others. If you want to avoid embarrassing avertising messages (such as "Jedem das Seine" (To each his own) of an engineering company – this slogan was written above the gates of Nazi German concentration camps) or if you want to address certain target groups (e.g. female Turkish patients in hospital) Cubus brings you into contact with competent people of the social scientific departments of RUB. For more details see www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/cubus

8. Invention of television and homicide rates

In his influential (1992) study, B. Centerwall claims that the introduction of television substantially increased homicide rates in the United States and Canada, and that they remained relatively stable in South Africa until the ban on television was lifted. A multivariate time-series analysis tests the alternative hypothesis that relationships involving primary groups are more important for understanding variations in homicide over time than the spread of television in a society. Using data based on official statistics the hypothesis was supported for all three societies, with the significant positive effect of television reduced to insignificance after incorporation of marriage-divorce ratios, divorce-rates, and other variables. Source: Jensen, Gary F.: „The invention of television as a cause of homicide: The reification of a spurious relationship.“ Homicide Studies, 5, 2, 2001, 114-130

9. Income inequality and homicide rates

A study (Daly et al., 2001) compares the Canadian provinces and U.S. states in a test case for examining the association between income inequality and homicide rates. Contrary to previous research, average income and the Statistics Canada`s province-level Gini indices were positively correlated. Moreover, the positive relationship between the Gini and the homicide rate was undiminished. Temporal change in the Gini was also a significant predictor of temporal change in provincial homicide rates. When Canadian provinces and U.S. states are considered together, local levels of income inequality appear to be sufficient to account for the two countries‘ radically different national homicide rates. Source: Daly, Martin; Wilson, Margo; Vasdev, Shawn; and others: „Income inequality and homicide rates in Canada and the United States.“ Canadian Journal of Criminology 43, 2, 2001, 219-236.

10. Citizens support aggressive traffic enforcement by police

In this experimental study, citizens strongly supported aggressive traffic enforcement practices, and those who were living in one of the experimental areas were significantly more likely to support the police and thought that the police worked well with the neighborhood. Residents living in the experimental areas however did not think that crime had decreased or that the quality of life had improved. S. Chermak, E.F. McGarrell, A. Weiss: Citizen´s perceptions of aggressive traffic enforcement strategies. In: Justice Quarterly 18, 2, 2001, S. 365-391

11. Management by self-confidence

In an empirical experiment two thirds of a group whose members were told that they were chosen because of their "special strength of mind" succeeded to stop smoking; less than one third of a comparative group who was not given this message was successful, and only 6 p.c. of the third group who did not get such a program. Conclusion: training is good, giving self-confidence (in addition) is better. Source: Trendletter 8/2002, S. 8

12. Electronic weapon with safety-code

The Australian company Metal Storm developed a pistol with less mechanical moving parts, higher firing efficiency and activation by safety-code. The cartridges are in tandem arrangement and are triggered by an electronic impulse. Video at www.metalstorm.com/04_videos/videos.html

13. Federal standards for Swiss police training

One third of the 15’000 Swiss policemen are specialists with high-level education. The 10’000 rank and file officers are trained at the sole cantonal level and thus do not possess a professional diploma valid for the whole country. This is the dark face of federalism, which the central state and the cantonal police forces themselves are willing to reform. The Federal office for professional education and technology will authorize this new diploma, as it has done with other professional activities. This could also contribute to differentiate the police from the private security firms that are usually less qualified. Moreover, the Swiss Conference of police and justice cantonal directors has set up a new project working group on the formulation of a global training policy. Since the federal level has newly acquired proper competences in the fight against organised and economical crime, federal authorities will be integrated in the working group. The whole concept, as underlined by working group officers, will respect the separation between cantonal basic training and federal long-life and high level training. Source: NZZ, 10.09.2002, p. 16