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Introduction
Traditional policing is reactive and action is initiated when crimes or problems are reported. In contrast, community policing is characterized by shifting of focus from crime and law enforcement to finding solutions to community problems like “perceptions of disorder, fear of crime, quality of life and neighborhood conditions” (Kappeler and Gaines 1). The ideal form of community policing empowers the community and, decisions on courses of action are taken in consultation with the community members. The police have to take up additional roles as advisors, facilitators and lead-initiators. They become service providers by escalating the community problems to the authorities for suitable policy changes. The concept of Community Policing Officer, responsible for a specific geographic area, initially started on an experimental basis. However, owing to its popularity, community policing became institutionalized in the 1990s.
Methods Used to Identify the Problems Found in a Community
Potential sources of information for identifying community problems are patrol, investigations, and various records available with police chief’s office and crime analysis department. Apart from these, the people’s representatives, government departments, business organizations, educational institutions, newspapers, journals and TV and video channels provide valuable inputs for identifying community problems (Miller et al 210).
Scanning and Analysis of the available data are the first two steps in problem identification and solving in the SARA model (Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment model). Scanning involves examination of the community problems on a collective scale to identify crime concentrations. The police officials enlist the help of community to obtain useful insight on problems which the police may not be aware of (Kappeler and Gaines 220). In the analysis phase, the police officers use multiple sources of information mostly from the community, to find the exact nature of the problem and possible reasons. In the response stage, the police deal with the problems appropriately to solve them. The police should then follow up with a detailed assessment of how effective the responses have been in solving the problems (Kappeler and Gaines 221).
Before identifying the problems faced by a community, it is necessary to define the community to which the problems relate. The community need not be a geographical area. It may also refer to a group of people, who may not live in the same area, but may have something in common such as age, culture, profession or interests. The next step is to collect facts and figures about crime in the target community. It is also necessary to consider the fears, concerns and perceptions of the community members about crime problems and their suggestions as to what the solutions could be. A fair of idea of crimes can be obtained from the local police records. Schools, organizations and agencies may keep records of unreported crimes. Media, surveys, telephone interviews and face-to-face interviews can be used to gather information which will be helpful in identifying the problems faced by the community. According to Community Programs Division Policing and Community Safety Branch’s report “Identifying Your Community’s Crime Problem: A Guide to Needs Assessment”, people who are knowledgeable about the issues, who are affected by the problem, who have stakes in the success of the program and those who are genuinely interested in helping to solve the issues can also be approached to get reliable information. It is also important to gather data from people of different cultures. Community Oriented Policing Services’ “Community Policing Defined” illustrates the “crime triangle” consisting of the victim, offender and the location which attempts to gauge the impact of the presence of guardians for the victims, handlers for the offenders and managers for the locations. The emphasis here is in strengthening these factors to deter crimes. The analysis also helps in identifying repeat offender, repeat victim and repeat location problems. It will also be helpful to group the incidents on the basis of underlying factors such as gang-related, drug-related, alcohol-related and mental illness related. It may also be helpful to map the incidents geographically to identify clusters in specific areas.
Reviewing police records alone will not reveal all about a community’s problem. Citizens, many times, may not report even serious problems in their neighborhood. The investigators have to canvass people who are knowledgeable about such problems and they may have to do it informally by attending community meetings and listening to the citizens’ concerns. Community members from different segments are likely to have knowledge about different problems. Residents can report problems in the public places near their residences about unruly youth, over-speeding vehicles, drug-dealing in open markets and boisterous parties. Merchants may be able to report problems near their businesses, such as retail and employee theft, street disorder or check and credit card frauds. Tourists are more likely to have experienced hotel room theft, pick-pocketing or prostitution. Non-government organization staff can provide information about cases of child abuse, domestic violence, drug abuse or mental illness, depending on their area of work. As Scott purports, hospital staff are likely to have knowledge about a variety of cases relating to assaults, substance abuse or accidental injuries (20). School and church officials can provide information about problems in their vicinity, like child or elderly abuse and neglect, bullying, gang activity or staff assault (Scott 20).
Most of the problems and concerns raised by the citizens may be genuine. But one cannot rule out the possibility that some of them may be unreal. The threats that the citizens see in the teenagers or mentally ill people may be overreactions to minor incidents. It is a common observation that people generally overestimate the speed of vehicles, when they are actually running within speed limits. Investigators have to segregate such cases and concentrate on problems which really warrant police intervention. There may be cases which are not police problems, but the citizens look to the police to sort out the issues. In such cases, the police may have to respect popular sentiment and offer help (Scott 21).
Scott discusses four principal patterns into which incidents can be grouped. On the basis of conducts of a similar nature, they may be classified as burglary, assault, theft, drug dealing etc (29). (often ordinances and statutes are framed in relation to such classification). If the problem involves the same people: same offenders, same victims or the same facilitators, such problems may be defined in relation to the people concerned, e.g. gangs, disorderly youth etc (Scott 29). Problems can also be grouped according to where they occur; in a park, in a particular mall, in specific business areas etc. Problem of speeding traffic may occur in certain routes predominantly. Some problems are likely to occur at particular times of the day. Scuffles in the bar are likely to occur during closing time. Robberies on the street may be more on paydays. Traffic congestion may be high during the beginning and end of school day. All these analyses and classifications will facilitate better understanding of the problems, the underlying causes and also lead to better remedial actions.
Conclusion
Most of the literature cited in this paper, discuss the Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment model for identifying community problems. In the scanning phase the investigators collect detailed information about past crimes from official police records, organizations, media and public, covering reported and unreported crimes. Even citizens’ perceptions, fear of crime and suggested solutions form part of the data used. The large volume of data thus generated is processed using a variety of software to yield pointers to the underlying problems facing the community. In community policing, the police collaborates with the members of the community to obtain reliable data and timely notifications about possible disturbances. The patrolling officers also maintain cordial relations and keep open the communication channels with the local community. The police are thus able to gain insight into the real nature of the problems from within and are therefore able to develop practicable solutions which will be acceptable to the local community. This is especially so, as the police develop the solutions in collaboration with the community.
Works Cited
“Community Policing Defined.” Community Oriented Policing Services. Web. http://ric-zai-inc.com/Publications/cops-p157-pub.pdf [Accessed 15 July 2016].
“Identifying Your Community’s Crime Problem: A Guide to Needs Assessment”. Community Programs Division Policing and Community Safety Branch. Web. http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/crime-prevention/community-crime-prevention/publications/safe-community-assessment-guide.pdf [Accessed 15 July 2016].
Kappeler, Victor E. and Gaines, Larry. K. Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective. 5th ed. NJ: Mathew Bender & Company Inc, 2009. Print.
Miller, Linda S., Hess, Karen Mattison and Orthmann, Christine Hess. Community Policing: Partnerships for Problem Solving. NY: Delmar, Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
Scott, Michael S. “Identifying and Defining Policing Problems”. Problem-Oriented Guides for Police, Problem-Solving Tools No. 13. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Web. 2015. http://ric-zai-inc.com/Publications/cops-p323-pub.pdf [Accessed 15 July 2016].
