Saturday, 5 January 2019

Foundation Of Effective Community Policing Programs

By Brenda Thompson


Community policing has been applauded for enhancing security in neighborhoods and reducing tensions between law enforcers and ordinary citizens. Its effectiveness depends on how well it is planned and organized in a particular neighborhood. Effective Community Policing Programs should ensure that they meet the following, among other conditions that have been deeply researched and ascertained to deliver results.

The program should enhance trust between police and the community. Law enforcement agencies should trust in the words of the citizens and allow them deal with some of the issues. People should also trust that the engagement and information they give to police officers will enhance security and well-being in their neighborhood. In the absence of trust, there will be tussles with law enforces and people will fail to report crimes of confrontations.

The community should engrave localized routines and values in their program. This is why such a program is formed to address local issues. There are routines and cultures that are specific to people of a certain area. While they might be regarded as unacceptable in other areas, police need to know that this is your tradition. However, these issues and values must be aligned to national values. It ensures that there is no conflict during law enforcement.

Technology and its use are an integral part of any effective program in the current era. People are given the power to report incidences and call law enforcement whenever there is need. Police are also required to use body and dash cameras to enhance fidelity to facts. Videos are accepted as evidence or proof of incidences that happened. Once technology is used effectively, the speed and quality of response are enhanced.

Priority needs to be given to engagement with the people in the area. Engagement helps law enforcement officers to appear like ordinary members of the area. They will not be regarded as any superior or inferior. Police and other law enforcers also begin to see residents as part of their lives. This creates a great deal of cohesion and builds a society of shared values. The dignity of all members of this neighborhood will be preserved.

Peaceful co-existence between people and police is enhanced through intense training and awareness creation. The aim is to make people understand the role of police officers and police to be cognizant of expectations from citizens. Awareness of boundaries and the responsibilities that come with these boundaries helps to de-escalate issues since everyone is aware of his or her place.

While police are integrated into the society and its programs, they should be accorded the dignity they deserve. Do not put them at risk through injuries or make false alarms. While you are supposed to regard each other with mutual respect, there is a level where the policeman has the final say. This policeman is not answerable to the people but to law and his superiors.

Community policing is supposed to solve localized problem. At the bottom of your program, you should have the issues that bother your neighborhood in mind. Understand the role of police and responsibility of citizenry. When both parties are engaged, it is easier to develop an effective program.




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