Improving Police - Community Relations through Community Policing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Improving Police - Community Relations through Community Policing

National Crime Prevention Council

2006

Objectives

Define community policing and its principles
Describe the benefits and the importance of citizen involvement
Identify strategies for effective communication
Identify the six factors for improving police community relations
Describe the benefits of Neighborhood Watch

National Crime Prevention Council 2006

Crime Prevention as a Bridge

Crime Prevention efforts reduce polarization that sometimes exists between police and citizens.
Community Policing, Neighborhood Watch, Orange Hat Patrols, Weed & Seed, and McGruff programs build a bridge that enables residents and law enforcement to communicate, collaborate, and work together to build safer, more caring communities.

Community Policing

“A policing philosophy that promotes and supports organizational strategies to address the causes of crime, to reduce the fear of crime and social disorder through problem-solving tactics and community-police partnerships.”
- Community Oriented Policing
Services Office

The 8 “P”s of Community Policing

A PHILOSOPHY of full service,

PERSONALIZED

POLICING, where the same officer

PATROLS and works in the same area on a

PERMANENT basis, from a decentralized

PLACE, working in

PARTNERSHIP with citizens to identify and solve

PROBLEMS.

Community Policing

The philosophy rests on the belief that law-abiding citizens in the community have the responsibility to participate in the police process. It also rests on the belief that solutions to today’s contemporary community problems demand freeing both community residents and law enforcement to explore creative ways to address neighborhood concerns beyond a narrow focus on individual crimes.

sir robert peel considered a father of law enforcement

Are his principles of policing still applicable today?

Absolutely!

Sir Robert PeelConsidered a “father” of law enforcement

Sir Robert Peel’s Nine Principles of Policing

1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.

3. Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

Sir Robert Peel’s Nine Principles of Policing (cont.)

4.The degree of cooperation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionally to the necessity of the use of force.

5. Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the expertise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient.

Sir Robert Peel’s Nine Principles of Policing (cont.)

7. Police at all time should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition; the police are public and the public are the police. The police being only full-time individuals charged with the duties that are incumbent on all of the citizens.

8. Police should always direct their actions strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

The more the various groups share common values, beliefs, and goals, the more likely it is that they will agree on common goals.

Most people are of good will.

Normative Sponsorship Theory

They will cooperate with others to facilitate
the building of consensus.

Critical Social Theory

Enlightenment-Give information

Empowerment-Take action to improve conditions

Emancipation-People can achieve through social action

Community relationships provide

Worth in social value

A more informed citizenry
Example to young people and others

Added value

Opportunity to learn about law enforcement while working with law enforcement
Learning about citizens’ concerns

How Do People View the Police?

Agencies Opening Their Doors to Citizens through Citizen Police Academies…

Why can it be important?
Who can it benefit?

Philosophy of the Citizen Police Academy

Agency size and demographics can sometimes create barriers between the police and those they serve.
Community policing is paramount to the effectiveness of crime reduction.
Police Image – There are many misconceptions to dispel.

Community

Police

Business

Schools

Government

Youth

Philosophy of the Citizen Police Academy (cont.)

Who Will Benefit from It?

EVERYONE!

philosophy of the citizen police academy cont18

Improved Cooperation

Less Apathy

Reduction in Crime

Reduction in Fear of Crime

Better Communications

Improved Police Image

Clear Understanding

Philosophy of the Citizen Police Academy (cont.)

What They Accomplish

Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service

Foundations of the VIPS Program

2002 Presidential initiative
Department of Justice and IACP responsibilities

Concept

Volunteers from the community
Expanding law enforcement to the community

Volunteers in Police Service (cont.)

Why they are needed

Ease demands on law enforcement
Encourage a more informed citizenry
Provide an example to young people
Improve cooperation and understanding between the police and their community

Considerationsof Community Interaction

How community volunteers can be used within their community

Legal issues
Safety issues
Expertise issues

Community/Police Needs and Support

Filling needs with volunteers

Coordinating position
Prerecruitment action required
Role of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
Match volunteers to the organization’s strategic plan
Possible volunteer positions (adapt to local needs)

Recruiting and Marketing

Recruitment strategy

Who is your target?
Develop a plan

Recognize important existing networks and tap in

Churches, PTAs, community councils, Kiwanis, Rotarians, etc.
Elementary and secondary schools
Youth, courts, citizen police academies

Recruiting and Marketing (cont.)

Develop organizational marketing materials

Websites
Brochures
Fliers/handouts/fact sheets
Store window posters
Ads in local papers
Cable channel access

Recruiting and Marketing (cont.)

Media assistance

Public service announcements
News releases

Prerecruitment strategy

Secure top management buy-in
Develop organization marketing materials

What does a citizen need to know before volunteering?

Position description
Time commitment
Defined program activities
Direct supervisor
Website access for personal record of service/journal
How long should volunteers serve?
Age criteria
Citizen police academy attendance prior to service

Police Agency Management and Administrative Issues

Agency mission, objectives, and goals

Define the agency’s mission, objectives, and goals
Volunteer concept and political consideration
Volunteer objectives and goals within agency mission
Clear and specific department guidelines for volunteers

VIPS Management and Administrative Issues

Develop a prerecruitment strategy according to the VIPS’ goal to help resource-constrained agencies
Internal management responsibilities
External management responsibilities
Who can manage the program
Training issues
Liability issues
Funding issues

Strategies for Effective Communication

Trust Building Model

GREATER SUCCESS !

GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND RANGE OF SOLUTIONS

RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP BUILDING

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

TRUST

The Communication Process

Message cues
Listener supplies meaning
Content
Relate to your audience/build rapport

The Communication Process (cont.)

One-way or two-way communication
Verbal/nonverbal cues
Physical appearance
Solicit student engagement and participation by using open-ended questions and feedback.

Facial expression

Tone of voice

Eye contact

Touch

Personal space

Territoriality

Time

Nonverbal Communication Considerations

Building Trust Through Effective Communication

Effective Listening

Listen to learn and understand, not to challenge or persuade.

Take turns and listen for FACTS and FEELINGS. (Both are important.)

Six Factors Necessary To Improve Police-Community Relations

The Six Factors

Membership
Environment
Process/Structure
Communications
Purpose
Resources

Membership

Appropriate cross-section of members
Mutual respect, understanding, and trust
Members see that collaboration is in their best interest.
Members develop an ability to compromise.

Environment

Political and social climate are favorable.
Collaborative group is viewed as a leader in the community.
There is a history or evidence of collaboration or cooperation in the community.

Process/Structure

Members are invested in the process as well as the outcome.
Clear roles and responsibilities
Flexibility
Adaptability
Equal decision-making authority is held by each member regardless of rank, authority, or place in the hierarchy.

Communication

Members learn to listen and allow venting.
There is open and frequent communication.
Members disclose self-interest at first meeting.
Members establish informal and formal means of communication.

Purpose

Concrete, attainable goals and objectives
Shared vision
Desired results and strategies

Resources

A skilled and unbiased convener
Staff time and volunteer time
Sufficient funds

CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

A lack of community involvement may lead to some of the most serious and perplexing problems your community faces.

Why is Community Involvement Important?

When members of a community are involved

with each other, they know

Their neighbors
The daily “goings-on” in the neighborhood
When something is wrong

One great way to perpetuate community involvement is through the Neighborhood Watch program

What is the Neighborhood Watch program?

Neighborhood Watch was established in 1970 to bring residents together to interact and become the guardians for the police in their community.

Neighborhood Watch

Crime prevention group organized around a block,defined neighborhood, or business district
Serves as “eyes and ears” for law enforcement
Helps establish/reclaim informal control of an area by observation, visibility, and increased social interaction
Donates time and resources
Usually has no formal budget or funding source
Success results in reduction in crime and improved quality of life for neighborhood residents

The Benefits of Neighborhood Watch

Studies show Neighborhood Watch is effective because it

Brings neighbors together around a common cause – safety and security
Provides basic skills to all members on preventing crime and reporting suspicious activity or crimes
Builds a base for action to correct neighborhood problems
Works well with other civic associations

Additional Citizen Actions

Discuss your community’s overall security, including lighting, and contact neighbors or the proper authorities to request necessary improvements.

Contact your local law enforcement agency and work with it to discuss basic community modifications that may overcome current problems.

Are state crime prevention associations and Neighborhood Watch programs involved in community policing and homeland security?

Absolutely!

As citizens, we all share the

responsibility for reporting and

preventing terrorism in our communities. We can be alert and aware of those activities in our neighborhood that may have links to terrorist and criminal behavior.

How can citizens be more aware?

Be informed: Read the newspaper, listen to or watch local and national news reports, and attend community meetings.
Be alert: Be familiar with your environment at home, school, work, church, and social events.
Be prepared: Have a prepared family plan for emergencies. Create a family first aid kit, attend crime prevention classes, and get involved with your local law enforcement and crime prevention associations.

In Conclusion…

Community policing is the responsibility of both law enforcement AND community members. BOTH have important roles in community policing.
There are many ways to involve the community in crime-reduction and problem solving, including community meetings and citizen police academies.
Police and local citizens are ALL members of the community.