POLICING

Community and Problem Oriented Policing

Abstract

This paper explores the topic of Policing. Particularly it focuses on the Community and Problem oriented policing. It examines the similarities and differences between the both policing techniques. Further, advantages and drawbacks of each policing technique are discussed in the paper. Moreover, the challenges in implementing the Community oriented policing and Problem oriented policing are also examined.

Community and Problem Oriented Policing

Introduction

The strategies that the police advocated escalated in severity over time, introducing more refined tactics to ensure discipline. This paper intends to highlight the two main policing techniques, Community oriented policing and Problem oriented policing. Further, it explores the key elements of those techniques.

Discussion

Community Oriented Policing

Community-oriented policing refers to eradication of crimes, social disorder and fear. It is a philosophy which takes helps from systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques which aims to promote the organizational strategies. It gives solutions to the emergency situations arising in public safety issues. There are main three components of community -oriented policing. First is a community partnership. This is the collaborative relationship between the law enforcing organizations with individuals which aims to increase trust in police and create solutions to the problems. This comprises of government agencies, service providers, community members, media and private businesses. The second category of COP is organizational transformation. This category aims for problem solving and supporting the community partnerships. It is an arrangement of the organizational structure, personnel, and management and information systems (Bayley, 2005).

COP strength is that it goes through all the activities of policing. Centralizing the policing activities means that the personnel would be able to focus on all the unique activities. Uniformed officers make a good contact with the public. The activities of COP are coordinated by the operational commander. This makes the commander to supplement, support the patrol work and rapid-response officers. Various activities conducted by the personnel are unified and supports team coordination. COP weakness is that changing the orientation of all police officers at the same time is difficult (www.popcenter.org). Centralized location may deprive the employees of local contact. Police may be attending the emergency calls more than the policing activities, which is a disadvantage. The community-policing specialists may possibly lose contact with groups and neighborhoods (Marion & Oliver 2012).

Problem Oriented Policing

Problem- oriented policing is another approach for policing. Small and discrete pieces of police business are examined in very detail and depth which makes learning of problems leading towards new discoveries and effective strategy to deal with those problems. The main value is the preventive measures which are dependent on the utilization of criminal justice system. POP has the commitment for the implementation of new strategies, which would contribute to build a knowledge-body supporting police professionalism. POP itself is a part of community-oriented policing. Both the police and community analyze the community problems and develop the customized reactions (Goldstein, 2012). POP comprises of scanning, analysis, response and assessment. Scanning is where identification of problems takes place. A fifth ingredient of POP is maintenance; this refers ...