Help!

People often complain that it takes the police too long to answer calls for help. Last week, however, the Justice Department released a report suggesting that victims of crime may be just as responsible for such delays. The study, conducted by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration in Kansas City, Mo., showed that for 1,000 victims of major felonies, it took a median time of 6 min. 17 sec. to call the police. Many victims were said to have telephoned other people, investigated the crime scene themselves or called a private security guard before summoning police. The survey also cited "hesitancy to take personal responsibility and indecision concerning the need for police assistance." Once the police were called, it took an average of only 2 min. 50 sec. for a car to be dispatched, and 5 min. 34 sec. for it to arrive at the scene. If crimes were reported in 1 min. instead of 5 min., the L.E.A.A. study added, in one of those statistical computations that always inspire wonder, the probability of an arrest would increase by up to 15%.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.