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Community
policing
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Community policing is a political philosophy in which the police and police department are seen as members of the community, with police officers being part of where they live and work. Cities and counties that subscribe to this philosophy tend to do much more community work than traditional police departments. This often includes having more police officers who "walk the beat" as opposed to driving around in police cars. The basic idea is to create bonds of trust and reliance between police and the public.
This approach requires officers to be open minded, unbiased, and sensitive to the concerns and problems of others; also known as the new policing paradigm. Even if officers do not agree with a complainant's viewpoint, they should try to listen and understand the problem. Police should display empathy and compassion with sincerity, not in a rehearsed way. Police must also develop skill in planning, problem solving, organization, interpersonal communications, and perhaps most importantly critical thinking.
At the heart of the police transition to community policing is the question: "How do the police identify and deliver high-quality services to the community?" In the past, the delivery of police services was accomplished in a reactive and unscientific manner, with little attention given to proactive policing. Today, the efficient delivery of police services requires a systematic process to 1) assess the needs of the public and 2) translate those needs into police services and programs that can be efficiently and effectively delivered to the community. In this way, police are becoming more sensitive to the needs of the community. They also have a better understanding of how their work affects the social environment.
COMMUNITY
POLICING EXPERIMENTS /OUTREACH
PROGRAMMES
IN
Over
the past few years, CHRI’s police unit under access to justice programme
has been collecting and compiling experiments on Community Policing and
Outreach Programmes in the different states of
Community Policing: Tamil Nadu
Friends Of Police: The Friends Of Police is a holistic and pro-active concept that lends a psychological approach to policing. It is a true example of police public partnership where citizens have been empowered and with the help of the police.
Friends
Of Police provides opportunities for ordinary citizens to effectively
contribute to the prevention and detection of crime. Any member of the
public, male or female who is not involved in civil or criminal case can
become a member of FOP. The members of FOP can provide useful information
leading to solving of crimes. FOP members can also prevent any abuse of
Police power because of easy accessibility to the station house officer and other senior personnel. Role of FOP:
·
Beats
and night Patrols
·
Assistance
in traffic
·
Crime
prevention
·
Information
collection
·
Assistance
in Law and Order Maintenenance · Involvement in Prohibition Work. Friends of Police movement have been found helpful in creating channels for receiving the right information at the right time. It has also helped the police to come closer to the community. It has tried to impart fairness, transparency and impartiality in the working of the police. This system is functioning effectively in all districts of Tamil Nadu over the last five years.
Community Policing:
Community Liaisoning Group:
It was felt that the Police in Puducherry do not reach the public and get their feelings on various matters with the result the needs of the public and the actions of the Police do not necessarily lead to better image and improved service to the citizens. The public members have no forum except through individual contacts with the Police Station staff or Police Officers to express their individual or collective grievances and problems, suggest solutions to problems, extend help to the police if they ever require the same etc. It was also felt that frequent meetings between police offices and people living in the jurisdiction of a PS would help in the police understanding the problems of the public and the public that of the police resulting better understanding between them and improve relations between them.
Keeping the facts in mind, it was decided to set-up ‘Public Co-operation Committees’ in the jurisdiction of each Police Station vide Standing Order No. 21/91, dated 18.02.1991 of Office of the Inspector General of Police, Puducherry. Accordingly, these Committees have been set-up in all the Police Stations in the name of ‘Community Liaisoning Group’ consisting of respectable of the locality, representatives of residents welfare associations /women organizations /markets /business interests / truck operators/educational institutions/industrial areas/cinema hall owners, etc. Meetings are conducted regularly with the members of the ‘Community Liaisoning Groups’.
In the meeting, the following points are discussed : o Suggestions for improvement in the image of Police. o Suggestions for improvement in police-public relations. o Suggestions for quicker police response. o Suggestions for improvement in Traffic. o Removal of encroachments from roadside pavements in the area. o Suggestions regarding better implementation of Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. o Problems faced by the people regarding policing of different colonies in the area. o Efforts to ensure peace if there have been problems of Law & Order in the area. o Other areas in which co-operation of public would be useful. o Any other matter as decided from time to time.
Fishermen Watch Groups: Apart from ‘Community Liaisoning Groups’, ‘Fishermen Watch Groups’ are functioning in the coastal area Police Stations, in which, the members of such Groups are sensitized frequently regarding the current security scenario and are asked to give information relating to the presence of strangers, movements of suspicious boats/materials in the coastal area, etc. They are also requested to intimate the factional feuds and other factors disturbing peace in their villages immediately to the Police, so that such problems can be settled before it becomes a rioting/clash.
Neighbourhood Watch Scheme: Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is being locally organized in each & every colony/residential area in synchronization with the local people & NGOs, as a preventive measure against crime. This is found effective as the Beat Officers are being assisted by the local villagers in patrolling the village during night hours.
Traffic Warden: As per Standing Order No. 54/1992, dated 25.03.1992 of the Office of IGP, Puducherry, Traffic Wardens are enlisted to help and co-operate with police officials in traffic, regulation and enforcement. Their duties would include assisting the police in conducting traffic education programmes among pedestrians, school children, drivers etc. from time to time.
Eyes and Ears of Police: As per the Circular No. 4/DGP/Secy/2009-613, dt. 23.06.2009 of O/o DGP, Puducherry, the ‘eyes and ears of Police’ have been activated in all the Police Stations in order to develop criminal intelligence. The ‘eyes and ears of Police’ includes individuals, such as, vendors, security guards, parking place attendants, hawkers, petrol pump workers, tempo/auto drivers, persons working in STD/ISD Booths, students, etc.
Senior Citizens: Security of senior citizens, who are residing alone, is also ensured by the Puducherry Police. A separate Register is maintained for senior citizens in all the Police Stations. The Beat Officers are sensitized periodically to visit the houses of senior citizens regularly, to hear their grievances and if any grievance pertains to the Police Department, it will be brought to the notice of the SHO for further course of action.
Peace Committee: Peace Committees have been formed in the communally sensitive areas of the respective Police Stations involving members from all communities, besides Police and Revenue officials. Peace Committee meetings are organized by the Police whenever required and conducted at the Office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Revenue) to prevent misunderstandings and to resolve the issue amicably.
Pamphlets to the members of public: Pamphlets containing ‘tips for preventing thefts/burglaries/snatching’, leaflets regarding guidance to the senior citizens and the contact telephone numbers of Police Station/Officers have been circulated to the members of public.
Police Website: The ‘Puducherry Police’ hosted an exclusive website "www.police.py.gov.in" with all relevant information to the members of public as well as the senior citizens.
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