Introduction
Communication is vital in our day-to-day operations especially on issues of national security. People living in communities should have information related to policy issues that aim at preventing terrorist attacks. As the terrorism threat increases and keeps evolving each day, nations should expand their support by coming up with initiatives that prepare law enforcement personnel to cope with terrorism incidents. Moreover, law enforcement agencies are persuaded to take aim at preventing measures in order to maintain the security of the community and that of the country in at large. Some of the policies aimed at preventing terrorism in communities are national and religious profiling, conducting searches at airports, and wiretapping. The following discussion focuses on the use of racial profiling in preventing terrorism.
Using policy issues in preventing terrorism
Terror attacks have affected the growth and development of many nations especially in United States (US) where there is a high vulnerability of terrorism acts. A lot of warnings have been given to groups associated with terrorism acts but no significant change has been seen. The failure of law enforcement agencies in preventing terrorist attacks contributes to the increased rate of insecurity in the country. The government has introduced many policies that focus on combating terrorist acts in the country and globally. One of the most important policies is the involvement of community in terrorist prevention. The following problem will not come to an end unless every person gets involved from the top government officials to the people in the community (Jones, 2013).
According to Siggins (2002), communities need to take part in preventing terror attacks through encouraging racial profiling. Statistics show that racial profiling preventive measures have seen a lot of success in tapping terrorist acts. The introduction of policy issues aimed at preventing terror attacks face a lot of support from the communities especially when they have ones be a victim of terrorism. Siggins argue that most of terrorists found in America are foreigners who found better land and business institutions in the country. Most of these people have remained to be good neighbors who have no plans of going back to their mother lands. Racial profiling assists in determining the origin of every person living in US in order to determine their reasons for staying in the country (Siggins, 2002).
Racial profiling has provoked a lot of debate among government officials on its importance in preventing terrorism. Even if racial profiling has no place in law enforcement it plays a great role in brings societies together and promoting peace among people of different races. Moreover, racial profiling helps law enforcers by offering community policing services that ensure communities get rid of suspected terrors. The efforts by police officers in serving their communities in ethical manner, communities still believe in racial profiling as the best way of preventing terror crimes. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (2011), the contact between the police force and the general public has increased from 16.9% to 19.1% by 2008. This statistics shows the readiness of communities in assisting the police and other law enforcing agents in preventing terrorist acts.
Civil society plays a significance role in preventing terrorism calling for the importance of law enforcement agencies to involve the society. The United Nations (UN) has been on the forefront in the involvement of non-governmental organizations and civil societies in combating terrorism. Civil societies assist in establishing the common political settlement for conflicts because most terror attacks are political. The ability of non-governmental organizations and civil societies in providing policy advices in preventing terrorism has faced a lot of support from the government. The civil society groups require to be given a sense of ownership in order to perform their terrorism prevention activities including partnering with the government. Moreover, people in the society require a lot of education on how to deal with issues of terrorism and because the police force is not large enough to reach every person, the civil society should be given this responsibility. Terrorists come from the society making it easier for the people living in a community to identify terrorists and forward them to the authorities (Gaines & Kappeler, 2011).
On the other hand, the government should focus on bureaucratic strategy in order to ensure more intelligent officers are available at all corners of the country. Most Americans call for future terrorism prevention acts because of the high potential held by nuclear weapons. As such, citizens have voted terrorism prevention as the top foreign policy goal in order to promote economic development. Most of terrorists enter the country through airports and ocean ports. The law enforcing agency has the responsibility of ensuring all travelers in and outside the country receive thorough security check in order to ensure the security of citizens (Jones, 2013).
Conclusion
The combination of policy in conducting search at airport and racial profiling would serve the best weapon for terrorism prevention not only in US but also in all countries. A government that realizes success to these preventive measures enjoys a peaceful life with no terror attacks and other major security threats. In addition, all law enforcing agencies are called upon to involve communities in crime prevention activities by introducing policies that favor their participation.
References
U.S. Department of Justice (2011). Contacts between Police and the Public, 2008. Office of
Justice Programs: Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved from:
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpp08.pdf
Gaines, L. K., & Kappeler, V. E. (2011). Policing in America (7th ed.). Newark, NJ: Lexis
Nexis.
Jones, M. Jeffrey. (2013). Americans Say Preventing Terrorism Top Foreign Policy Goal.
Retrieved from:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/160628/americans-say-preventing-terrorism-top-foreign-policy-goal.aspx
Siggins, P. (2002). Racial Profiling in an Age of Terrorism. Retrieved May 29, 2013,
http://www.mrsc.org/subjects/pubsafe/le/le-policies.aspx
