The People Are the Police, the Police Are the People
Community policing is fundamentally a group effort between the community and the police that identify and solve community related problems. In this scenario the police are not the only guardian of law and order, members of the community assumes active roles in the effort to promote quality and safety of neighborhoods. It has far-reaching and significant implications. The expanded view on various crime prevention and control, the new prominence on ensuring that community members actively participate in the protocol of solving problems, and the pivotal role of patrol officers in the community policing requires drastic change and initiative within any police organization. In the set up, the patrol officers, with the back up of the police organization, assists community members in mobilizing support and resources required for problem solving and improve their quality of life. The members of the community voice their grievances, give advice, and take due action in addressing these grievances.
Developing a meaningful partnership will need energy, understanding, creativity and patience of all those involved. Reinvigorating the communities is important if we need to prevent crime and develop more crucial neighborhoods (More and Miller, 2007). In most communities, it may take time to wear out barriers of mistrust and apathy so that mutual partnerships can be reached. Trust is the virtue that links and underlies the components of community problem solving and partnerships. A firm foundation of good faith and trust allows the police to forge close relations with the community hence, producing solid achievements. In the absence of trust between citizens and police, effective and efficient policing is hard to come. (Ward, 1992). Generally all police organizations are just like any other organization and community oriented policing (COP) and problem oriented policing (POP) works pretty much the same in all communities.
Why community policing
There are gripping reasons why leaders in law enforcement believe the time has already come to change the practices and policies of their organizations and corporations. These reasons are founded in the tradition of police research and policing during the final quarter of last century, in the changing nature of communities, and in the shifting characteristics of crime and violence that affect these communities. Policing strategies that worked in the past are not always effective today. The expected goal of an enhanced way of security, safety and well-being is not yet achieved. Professionals concur that there is a compelling need for invention to curb the problems in the community. Both the nature and level of crime in the society and the unstable character of various communities are some of the reasons that push police to find more efficient methods. Community policing is one of the new inventions.
Just to name but a few, communities in urban areas are suffocating with serious problems ranging from illegal drugs, murders, gang violence, burglaries and muggings. Suburban and also rural communities have not escaped unscathed. They are in the meantime noting increasing trend in crime and other community disorder. On the other hand, the social fabric of our community has changed superficially. The family which is the basic unit of the society is not as stable as it used to be. Single and working parents find it tremendously difficult to have enough time with their children. At the same time schools and churches have not been able to fill this social gap. Ethnic groups, immigrants and minorities, add to the variant nature of our communities. These groups in most cases have various interests and do pursue disparate objectives.
Benefits of community policing
The process of community policing will only benefit the community when the police operate efficiently by devoting attention and time to and admit the importance of community grievances. Groups in the neighborhood and the police in patrol need to agree on which particular problems need to be given priority. For example, police may consider robberies as the greatest problem in a specific community or area, while citizens may point derelicts that spent their night in doorways, break glasses on sidewalks, and pouch through the litter cans to be the big problem. Through community based policing, the issue with derelicts must also get early priority from the patrol police with the help of community members and government agencies (More and Miller, 2007).
Operation procedure
There is an increased difficulty in the governments in balancing budgets, which frequently pushes police departments to secure dwindling resources to curb growing problems. In this swiftly changing community, where police have to endure upcoming drug problems, increased violence and gang activities, the idea of community policing is taking root. Police officers using this approach to solve the problems of social disorder and crime, an approach that may vividly promote and maximize resources and performance, have struck a receptive chord in both local and national governments and in communities across the world. Community leaders and government are starting to recognize that they also should accept the responsibility of keeping their neighborhoods secure. (Wadman and Robert, 1990). Communities are supposed to take a united stand against violence, crime without regarding the law, and should make a lasting commitment to increasing intervention activities and crime-prevention.
Police agencies should help develop stronger, self-sufficient communities. This implies communities in which social disorder and crime will not thrive. Community policing is a democracy in real action. (Wycoff and Wesley, 1985). It needs the active participating of civic, local government and other business leaders, private and public agencies, churches, schools, residents and hospitals. All who have a concern for the actual welfare of the neighborhood must bear responsibility for safeguarding the society. Community policing is being advocated by authorities at the higher levels of government-beginning with President and Attorney General, who usually describes it as the power sharing in policing (More and Miller, 2007). In addition, it has been the view of many that community policing may play a major role in altering the way the government services are delivered at the community level.
Conclusion
The implementation part of community policing calls for basic changes in the management and structure of police organizations. Community policing is different from traditional policing in the way community is viewed and in its expanded policing objective. While crime prevention and control remain focal priorities, community policing strategic plan use a broad variety of methods in addressing these targets. The community and the police become partners in addressing issues of neglect and disorder like gang, abandoned cars, and broken bottles that, perhaps not criminal, may eventually result to serious crime. Also the links between the community and police are strengthened over time. This ensures partnership will be able to analyze and mitigate the causes of crime.
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