COMMUNITY BASED POLICING

1.0 What is community policing?
1.1 Principles of community policing
1.2 Principles of Democratic Policing
1.3 Characteristics of Democratic Policing
1.4 Objectives of community policing
1.5 Misconceptions on community policing
1.6 Pre-requisites of community policing
1.7 Importance of community policing
1.8 Components of CBP

1.0 WHAT IS COMMUNITY POLICING?
It is seen as a policing strategy that allows the police and the community to work together to address crime and insecurity in their localities. It supports the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.
Community policing is therefore a deliberate effort by the community and security agencies to partner in sharing information so as to address insecurity in a locality.
It recognizes the interdependence and shared responsibility of the police and the public and thus the need to create open communication channels and find joint solutions for crime related problems.
Community policing needs not to be big. It can start small by way of bringing together people in the community with common interest and goals. The over-riding factor should be security. Community Policing can however not be established through a mere modification of existing policies. Profound changes must occur on every level and area of a police agency-from patrol officer to chief executive and from training to technology.
This therefore means that every segment of the society is a potential community policing group. What is required is for such people in a given locality to come together, identify a common stand point and formerly establish a community policing forum.It thus requires a shared ownership, shared decision making and shared accountability.
Community policing is seen as a bottom-up approach that is people driven and involves establishing partnerships between the police and the community so that the community has a say in crime prevention and decision making. It aims at crime prevention and not crime control, it is proactive and not reactive, it is accountable and not oppressive, and it is responsive and not defensive.

In the AP, Community Policing is seen as one of the departmental undertaking and it mainly focuses on:

• Community safety
• Crime prevention
• Peace building
• Conflicts management
• Partnership working

 

SP Mwinyi addressing a CBP forum	Members of the public interacting with the AP during an open day

 

SP Mwinyi addressing a CBP forum 

Communities must take a unified stand against crime, violence and disregard for the law, and must make a commitment to increasing crime-prevention and intervention activities. Police agencies on the other hand must help build stronger, more self sufficient communities where crime and disorder will not thrive.

1.1 Principles of Community Policing
A community policing model which is effective should be hinged on the following principles.

• Transparency
• Effectiveness
• Accountability: enhancement of the accountability of the police to the community they serve
• Volunteerism
• Responsiveness
• Democracy
• Law-abiding
• Service oriented
• Seeks to enhance and build partnerships
• Community oriented and not police driven
• Seeks to build trust and confidence between the police and the members of the public
• It promotes integrity
• Crime is predominantly local in nature and should thus be addressed using local initiatives and resources
• The principal focus for decision making must be local and not national
• Respect for and protection of human rights
• Commitment to problem oriented policing
• Awareness of and respect for diversity and cultures

1.2 Principles of Democratic Policing
There are seven internationally recognized principles of democratic policing as crafted by the UN. These are:

1. The Police must be oriented and operate in accordance with the principles of democracy i.e. they should operate consistently within the constitution and the law not arbitrarily
2. Police conduct must be governed by a professional code of conduct which will ensure that they exercise the highest standards of ethical conduct in the discharge of their duties
3. The primary objective of the police must be the protection of life. The application of Force by officers should be minimal in all circumstances and deadly force should only be used to protect the life of the police or other people
4. Protection of life and property is the primary function of police. Therefore the primary concern of police operations must be directed to the prevention of crime that threatens life and property
5. Police must serve the public and should be accountable to the public they serve. This means that the police must act in a way that the public knows, understands and accepts
6. Police must conduct all their activities with respect for human dignity and the human rights of all persons adhering to international human rights standards and avoiding abuse, torture or other cruel, degrading treatment of citizens and detainees
7. The Police must discharge their duties in a non-discriminatory manner. Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, national origin, religion, ethnicity or other status in the delivery of police services is incompatible with policing in a democracy (this principle applies also to the recruitment, promotion and assignment of officers)

1.3 Characteristics of Democratic Policing
CBP is about democratic policing. The following characteristics are therefore essential ingredients to democratic policing:

• Operating as a Service not a Force
• Being accountable to the government and the people
• Being open and identifiable
• Being professional
• People centered
• Delivering a quality service that is efficient and effective
• Visible and accessible
• Being consultative and participatory

However, Community Policing core operational principles include:

• Building partnerships between security agencies and communities and confining them to a distinct administrative area that communities find themselves
• Volunteerism among the community members
• Adherence to the existing laws and procedures of public safety and security
• Empowerment of the community in public safety and security issues
• Awareness and respect of regional diversity and cultures
• Respect for the protection of human rights
• Building trust between the security agencies and public that results in ‘intelligence’ policing
• Acknowledgement that community policing is not a forum for advancing political or other private interests nor is it synonymous with vigilantism that itself is illegal
• Confidentiality in that information shared with the police is treated and acted upon with utmost confidentiality
• Problem solving

1.4 Objectives of Community Policing

• It seeks to establish stronger partnerships between the police and communities
• It seeks to build trust and confidence between the police and the members of the public so as to promote community safety and security
• It seeks to create open communication channels between the police and the members of the public
• It seeks to identify the community needs thereby tailoring the policing business to meet them
• It seeks to encourage sharing of information.
• It seeks to improve crime reporting
• It aims at identifying and solving common security problems
• It seeks to enhance peace and tranquility in communities

AP Officers carrying out a Community Policing sensitization program to members of the public in Molo-Railway

 

1.5 Misconceptions on Community Policing
Community policing is a societal undertaking, which should be embraced by all people for the benefit of our communities.  When we engage in community policing, we should be clear that community policing is not and does not imply;

• Vigilantism,
• Commercial enterprise,
• Political forum,
• Parallel security, or militia grouping
• Coercion and extortion,
• Settling of scores,
• Form of employment,
• Power sharing i.e. it is not the shifting of police responsibilities to the public, rather it is seen as the sharing of responsibilities,
• Covertness, i.e. it is not a spy network for the police,
• Cover up for policing challenges i.e. it is not a mere public relation gimmick but a practical approach to crime prevention.
• It is not police driven but rather community oriented

1.6 Pre-Requisites of Community Policing

• There is need for the right attitude for both the police and members of the public.
• Change of the organizational structure so as to incorporate community policing in the system.
• Refined information management to encourage a greater information flow.
• Integrity on the part of the officers and members of the public
• Change of organizational culture within the police agencies so as to embrace values necessary to implant community policing strategies.
• Change of values so as to adapt policing in this changing times

1.7 Importance of Community Policing

• It mobilizes the community to address pertinent issues within and beyond security.
• It makes safety and security everybody’s issue, not just for the law enforcement agencies.
• It maximizes resources within the community through shared responsibility and joint efforts.
• It reduces the fear of crime in the society.
• It gives the community a say in safety and security issues since they are partners in the policing business.
• It enables communities to contribute to safer societies leading to enhanced development in an area.
• It encourages better networking and social relations within the community.
• It removes fear of crime from law abiding citizens by putting it onto the criminals.
• It increases the level of accountability in utilization of resources both in the community the police, and other agencies.
• It increases greater contact and networking between neighbours.
• It helps to cultivate public spiritedness and togetherness in combating crime.
• It encourages information sharing between the police and the community.
• It reduces complaints and disaffection against the police.
• It improves the quality of life of the locals due to the increased security thus an enhanced socio-economic development

 
AP officers playing volley ball with members of the public
                          

1.8 : Components of CBP

• Community partnership in that the police must develop a positive relationship with the community and involve the community in the quest for better crime control and prevention
• Problem solving in that specific concerns of communities are identified and the most appropriate remedies to abate these problems are found


Kaseve AP post build by the community for the AP  Officers

Who should the Partners be?
There are six vital members of any community partnership. If any of these is missing, a critical part of the information, resources and action will be missing. Others may be brought on board as expedience dictates.
They include:
• Police Service(s)
• Local Government (Municipal Authorities)
• Government Departments particularly Justice, Social Services, Health, Environment and Education.
• Community Police Forums (Local Community structures)
• Civil Society
• Business community
• Media
• Religious bodies/organizations
• Drug enforcement agencies

Roles of Partnership

What a partnership MUST do:
• Share information about training content and delivery
• Co-ordinate its activities

                                    
AP officers donating food to a sick person


What a partnership can do
The following are essential
• Joint setting of priorities
• Joint planning and action
• Joint resourcing (each organization can fund its own activities within the partnership or funds can be raised jointly for collaborative projects/activities)

 

How do you manage partnerships?
To work effectively a partnership must agree on:
• How to set joint priorities;
• What to do to implement them;
• Who does what, and by when; and
• How the co-ordination will be managed.


 APs giving a helping hand to the sick

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