Police activity

The term " police" comes from the Greek word " polis" or " polisma" meaning " town" or " city". In fact, the evolution of police systems has followed the emergence and development of cities.

Field Patrol. The most important function of police activity is crime prevention. The prevention aspect of police work is based on planned random patrol by uniformed officers on foot, in cars or other vehicles. Most of the problems facing the police and most of the conflicts within the community occur at this level. The patrol unit is the most visible representative of the police and has the most direct contact with the public. Patrol units concentrate their activities in areas that have the highest crime rates. The crimes that patrol units are most concerned with are " street crimes", such as robbery, burglary, assault, and a variety of so-called " victimless crimes" (those in which there is no complaining victim), such as prostitution, drug use, and gambling.

Crime Detection and Arrest. These are the next steps in police work and the early stages of the criminal justice process. This process begins when the police become aware that a crime has been committed or suspect that a crime might be committed in the near future. There are three major ways that this process may begin. The first is through a complaint from a citizen, either the victim or a witness. The second is trough police patrol and personal observation by the police. The third is through undercover operations.

Several decisions are made by the police at this stage, the most important of which is whether or not to make an arrest. In fact, the contacts between the police and offenders or potential offenders involve several police procedures in connection with which the police have four main powers:

1) To stop and search if the police believe that a person has committed certain offences;

2) To arrest a suspect for serious crimes;

3) To detain a suspect while they carry out their investigations. This includes the power to question the suspect;

4) To enter and search premises to seize evidence.

Упр. 6. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту.

1. In what way is the word " police" connected with the word " city"?

2. What is the first function of the police?

3. Where does a police patrol concentrate its work?

4. What kind of crime is the patrol connected with most often?

5. What crimes are called " victimless"?

6. In what way do the police become aware of a crime?

7. What are the police actions when a crime is committed?

Упр. 7. Переведите прилагательные с суффиксом – LESS, обозначающим отсутствие качества.

homeless, useless, baseless, harmless, victimless, wordless, weaponless, lawless, powerless, nameless