Some countries are struggling with an increase in crime rates. Many people think that having more police on the streets is the only way to reduce crime.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Write at least 250 words 

Sample answer

It is thought by many people that having more police patrols is the sole measure to reduce crime rates. Personally, I partially disagree with this idea and believe that in addition to regular presence of police force, there are many other approaches which can be taken to address the issue of high crime rates.

Clearly, the highly frequent patrols of law enforcement officers on the streets would act as a deterrent, thereby reducing the rates of criminal offences. To be more specific, if criminals or those with malicious intents witness police force patrolling in public places days and nights, they are more likely to be deterred from committing crimes due to the fear of immediate police arrest or incapacitation. As a result, rates of crimes would drop significantly. This crime-fighting solution works best to prevent offences which normally occur in the public, such as theft, car theft, vandalism, robbery, or burglary. 

On the other hand, I believe that crime prevention can be promoted in different ways that are not related to increasing police numbers. First, broadcasting criminal trials of law courts via television for the public could discourage intentions of crime committing. By watching televised court trials, viewers would be more aware of the strict punishments resulting from their illegal actions. Consequently, people with malicious intents would give up what illegal they intend to do. Second, increasing the use of video cameras in public places is also a positive measure to deter criminals and prevent crime. The reason is that offenders are less likely to take actions in places where they know they are being watched. Also, if crimes are committed, the police can use video evidence to catch and prosecute offenders. 

In conclusion, while having more police force patrolling on the streets can help to reduce crime levels, I believe that other crime-fighting measures should also be introduced, including televising criminal trials and more video surveillance in public places.

Word count: 320 words 

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