POLICE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP UNDER DEMOCRATIC POLICING (COMMUNITY POLICING)

PRESENTED BY I.A.F. MALUWA, SACP.

INTRODUCTION:

In democratic societies policing has become a challenge to all law enforcement agencies. There are several policing philosophies in different societies whose opinions differ on the most effective policing method to get better results in terms of Police – Public Partnership. Community policing is such a dominant philosophy. Others are Crisis Policing and Authoritarian Policing:-

AnnekeOsse:Understanding Policing. A Resource for Human Rights Activists – PP 94 – 96)

  • A policing style or philosophy may more or less evolve gradually from the new working methods adopted.
  • It may also be an explicit choice by the authorities or police management to strengthen public consentor rather enhance state control.
  • In any democratic society policing is an ongoing and constantly evolving processwhereby different situations require different types of policing.
  • Societal changes will require police to adopt different approaches of policing, hence Community Based Policing.

AnnekeOsse:-Understanding Policing

A Resource for Human Rights Activists

CRISIS POLICING

  • Is defined as “continued repressive policing where officers are preoccupied with order and the control of violence.” The focus is short term and based on survival of the state system.

AUTHORITARIAN POLICING

  • Authoritarian policing usually aligns itself with authoritarian political systems but may survive after transition to a democracy.
  • Government set policing priorities without consideration of the needs of the population or preferences of the citizens.

NOTE:

  • Under these policing systems, human rights tend to be considered as an additional burden that place limits on the police.
  • Providing assistanceto the public is not seen as a police function at all.
  • Is seriously hampered by a lack of contact between police and the public, there is no access to information.

COMMUNITY POLICING

  • Is a collaborative effort between the police and the community that identifies problems of crime and disorder and involves all elements of the community in the search for solution to these problems.
  • It is based on the assumption that police cannot control crime alone but require the support of communities to ensure safety.
  • Goals of Community Based Policing include:-

Prevention and detection of crime

Reduction of fear of crime

Improvement of police community relations

  • Community Based Policing is also defined as a Management style or Organisational strategy that promotes:-

Proactive problem – solving

Police – community partnership to address causes of crime and fear.

(MHRRC and MPS: - Police Source Book on Human Rights. PP.III – 114)

HOW THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY POLICING IS IMPLEMENTED:-

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Discussing priorities and strategies with communities.
  • Mobilizing active assistance of the community.

PROBLEM SOLVING

  • Focus on crime prevention rather that crime detection
  • Study why people call on the police and try to tackle causes of problems

ORGANISATIONAL TRANFORMATION

  • Decentralising command structure and decision making
  • Developing close cooperation with other parties in community safety.

BUILDING PARTERSHIP FOR PROBLEM SOLVING

  • The basic idea of Community Policing is building partnerships for problem solving.
  • The most basic form is the improvement of relations between the police and the public to ease mutual tensions.
  • It is the cultivation of better community relations to control crime.
  • It is the active pursuit of popular input and public collaboration to prevent crime and improve police services.
  • The most important point forging strategic partnership between police and the public is to work towards crime- free communities.

POLICE – PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP

  • A central feature of democratic policing is the notion of policing with the consent of the people.
  • Police cannot assume that they always act with the consent of all citizens, but they must constantly work to ensure that the public support their work.
  • To gain public support police must provide for transparency of their operations and cultivate communication and mutual understanding between the public and themselves.
  • Without consulting the public, police would be imposing their services on the public rather than responding to the public needs.
  • Measures to achieve transparency and communication include:-

Public dissemination of reports on crime and police operations.

Establishment of mechanisms for the public to request police service.

The creation of forums for open discussions of crime and safety problems.

The introduction of Community Based Policing and other initiatives.

(OSCE: Guide book On Democratic Policing _PP 28 – 31)

EXERCISE 1

Crime statistics for Central Region Police between January and February in 2013 and 2014

CRIME STATISTICS

CRIME / 2013 / 2014
JAN / FEB / PERCENTAGE / JAN / FEB / PERCENTAGE
MURDER / 13 / 19 / 46.2 / 11 / 23 / 109
ROBBERIES / 10 / 13 / 30.0 / 2 / 12 / 500
BRERAKINGS / 13 / 19 / 46.2 / 2 / 9 / 350
HOUSE B/THEFT / 1 / 6 / 500 / 2 / 3 / 50
RAPE / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 100
DEFILEMENT / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 100
M/V THEFT / 2 / 4 / 100 / 2 / 2 / 0
  • Out of 42 murder cases, 20 were killed by mob justice either by assaulting to death or setting them on fire.

a.Why is there sharp increase in the violent or serious crimes?

Public has lost trust and confidence in Police

Public has lost trust and confidence in the criminal justice system, police being key player

b.What indicators are there in communities to show the public has lost trust in their Police? Cite examples:-

  • Increase in violent or serious crimes. E.g. breakings
  • Increase in mob justice cases e.g. setting criminals on fire
  • Attacks on police formations
  • Examples:-
  • Mitundu Police Unit – Lilongwe
  • Nsundwe Police Unit – Lilongwe
  • Nkanda Police Unit – Mchinji
  • KabulaPolicve Unit – Blantyre
  • Etc
  • Killing of Police Officers by the general public e.g.
  • Goliati issue (one Officer)
  • Nsungwi Police Unit (One Officer)
  • E.t.c.
  • Killing of members of the general public by police eg
  • Goliati issue (one)
  • 20th July, 2011, 20 people in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Blantyre.

C.Howare serious breakings and robberies being carried out by criminals in the Communities?

  • Shows criminals do not hit targets at random
  • They hit the right target at the right time.
  • They are always in groups in their operations

NOTE

Behind every robbery with violence and a serious breaking, there is a member from the community.

MECHANISMS FOR REQUESTING POLICE SERVICE

  • Emergency telephone lines
  • 997
  • 990
  • Ndakuona toll free line
  • Patrols in the communities
  • Foot, bicycle or motor vehicle.
  • Foot patrol is appreciated because there is interaction with the community, thus police officers are accessible.
  • Visit of Police Offices by community leaders and the concerned.

POLICE – MEDIA RELATIONS

  • The most effective and efficient way of complying with the demand for transparency is by informing the public through media.
  • Information that raises public confidence or gives a feeling of safety

Should be given out.

  • General facts about the objectives of the police and how the police work should be given to the media.
  • Public Relations Officers should know what information to release.

PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF REPORTS

  • Public information reports include:-

Crime statistics in the community

Clear-up rates of crimes

Public security perceptions

Reports on human rights records of the police

Corruption cases within the police e.t.c.

  • Such reports allow for public evaluation of police performance

CREATION OF FORUMS FOR OPEN DISCUSSIONS

  • Effective policing must be based on good cooperation and trust between the police and the public.
  • Creation of formal or informal forums for open discussions between police and representatives of communities are valuable for eliciting the views of the community.
  • This promotes exchange of views and cooperation and leads communities getting involved in crime prevention programmes.
  • Problem solving coalitions are developed whereby authorities in communities give support to police and the public.
  • The idea for creating forums for open discussions is derived from community based policing approach.
  • Community based policing approach fosters cooperation between police and the public in identifying and resolving issues of concern to the citizens.
  • Some of the common community based policing forums include:-
  • NEC : National Executive Committee
  • REC : Regional Executive Committee
  • SEC : Station Executive Committee
  • CPF : Community Policing Forum at Traditional Authority Level
  • CPP : Crime Prevention Panel at Group Village headman Level
  • CPC : Crime Prevention Committee at Village headman Level
  • Neighbourhood Watch Schemes also play a vital role in crime prevention since most of them are crime or group specific.
  • There is no single universal formula for community based policing.
  • Any community based policing programmes must be formulated and implemented taking into account local political and cultural environment.

Example:- Use of gulewamkulu, tchopa, manganje,ingoma, e.t.c. depending on the area.

OUTREACH TO MINORITY COMMUNITIES

  • Minority groups are often reluctant to cooperate with police because of distrust.
  • Distrust comes particularly if they have previously been subjected to abuse.
  • Minority groups may be due to diversity of languages, religions, customs or other cultural characteristics.

COOPERATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS

  • Police should cooperate with community based services, human rights and other NGO’s and religious organisations to reach communities
  • The challenge is to select the most appropriate body that has stability, accountability and authentic representation in the community.
  • Police Officers should be impartial when dealing with communities to avoid creating mistrust in some sections of the community especially where there are conflicts.

EXERCISE 2

Why do Police Officers still not perform to the expected standards despite undergoing numerous and repeated trainings?

EXERCISE 3

What happens when police violate Human Rights?

  • Law enforcer becomes law breaker
  • Human dignity is transgressed
  • Erosion of crucial public confidence and support
  • Exacerbation of civil unrest
  • Hampering of effective prosecutions in court
  • Isolation of police from the community
  • Guilty parties go free and the innocent are punished.
  • Victims of crime are left without justice.
  • Removal of the “Law” from “Law enforcement”.
  • Police agencies forced to be reactive rather than proactive.
  • International and media criticism and political pressure on Government and police.

EXERCISE 4

Q. What happens when police uphold, protect and defend human rights?

  • Public trust and confidence is built and community cooperation fostered
  • A contribution is made to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and complaints.
  • Legal Prosecution are successful in courts.
  • Police are seen as part of the community, performing a social function.
  • The fair administration of justice is served and hence confidence in the system is enhanced.
  • An example is set for respect for the law by others in society
  • Police are able to be closer to the community and therefore in a position to prevent and solve crimes through proactive policing.
  • Support is elicited from the media, from international community and from political authorities.
  • Police bring honour to their uniform, their agency, and their government.

(United Nations: -Human Rights And Law Enforcement. A Trainers Guide On Human Rights for The Police)

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