Community-oriented and problem-oriented policing approaches in law enforcement

¶ … Policing

Community- and problem-oriented policing have risen as the most important mediums for improving the efficiency of police efforts in communities and as ways of reformation of police organizations.

Community-oriented Policing

Community-oriented policing has turned out to the symbol of police in America. In every area of the United States, community policing has emerged as an adaptive style of policing. It is considered as a powerful organizing vehicle for the public protection. If truth be told, it has become an accepted principle for law enforcement agencies. Community-oriented policing promises to thoroughly change the relationship among the police department and the public, deals with community problems, and improves the living conditions of the neighborhoods (Greene, 2000).

The main idea behind community-oriented policing is that the enforcement of law should be focused, proactive and sensitive to the community. It tends to break down the barriers between the law enforcement department and the public. As far as the departmental side is concerned, it emphasizes on a flat structure of hierarchy. Moreover, it focuses on the implementation and understanding of coordinated services of the department with private/public communities to be responsible for neighborhood safety (Greene, 2000).

As an alternative of answering to emergency calls and keeping an eye on criminal activities, community-oriented policing programs tend to find out the core cause of the criminal activities. The police then go to the respective areas to eliminate the cause behind the turmoil. This is done with the cooperation and interaction of the people (Greene, 2000).

Strengths and Weaknesses

Community-oriented policing encourages people to become partner with the police for keeping an eye on the neighborhood. In this way, the gap between the public and police is reduced resulting in open communication and timely prevention of criminal acts and activities. This model helps the police department for a flat structure so that people can openly communicate with the police department. As far as the weaknesses of this kind of policing are concerned, it does not allow people doing multiple jobs to participate in the community activities as they do not have enough time to attend meetings etc. Thus, community-oriented policing can only be effective if both the people of the community and the police are willing to put their efforts, time, and feedback (Greene, 2000).

Example

A case of repeated calls to police regarding the drug dealers in any specific area is one of the examples of community-oriented policing. Police officers can interact with the members of the neighborhood to share the details and can ask them to keep a check on the points reported in the calls. By doing so, the involved community will feel responsible and can easily report the criminal activity in future. Police officers can teach the basic skills to people for tracking the criminals.

Example

The example of money snatching incidents can be taken to understand problem-oriented policing. A police officer can visit a neighborhood and detect any suspicious characters. This approach will never assure that the crime will not be repeated in that area. Problem-oriented policing model says that police have to analyze the conditions of the problem. This can only be done by meeting the people in that community and figuring out the time of all repeated money snatching incidents. The results will surely help the police department to cater the problem for future and to keep an eye on the criminals.

Comparison

Both community-oriented policing and problem-oriented policing focus on the community participation and to minimize unlawful activities. They keep a check on the crimes by building communities. The form of intervention in both the models is civil and administrative. The range of police activity goes from narrow to broad in POP whereas in COP the range of police activity is broad. The police culture in COP is towards building partnerships with the communities and neighborhoods where as the police culture of POP is based on the analysis. Analysis decides whether it should be mixed, individual or community based. The flow of communication in both the practices is horizontal. Type of command in both models is decentralized but in POP the accountability is to central administration. In COP, the success is measured by calls for service, fear reduction, use of public places, community contacts and protected neighborhoods. The consent of community policing is wide community building while problem oriented policing has its core focus on problem (Greene, 2000).

Challenges

There may be several challenges in the implementation of the community oriented policing. Eliminating the basic barrier between the community and the police department and convincing community groups and individuals to work with the police department can be a challenge. Another challenge associated with the community-oriented policing is the building up of a bridge of information between the community and the police. Another challenge is to understand the provision of important opportunities for police-community partnership and solution of the problem.

The law enforcement agencies in America, especially the police departments, have become more efficient over the years in fighting with the crimes and the criminals. The United States of America needs "better-educated police officers with improved people skills and a stronger grasp on emerging technologies" (Stephens, 2005) for a flourishing policing in the upcoming times.

The future of policing in America also promises improved technology, advanced education and enhanced community ties. However, it is highly required of the contemporary police to gain knowledge of high-tech crime if they want to fulfill their sworn duty of protecting and serving the public (Stephens, 2005).