A Summary Of Sir Robert Peel's Position On Policing
Sir Robert Peel 's Position on Policing � PAGE �6�
Sir Robert Peel 's Position on Policing
Kessha Hobson
Survey of Justice and Security
Professor Steven J. Duplissis, J.D.
March 14, 2010
Introduction
The real key for policing is the police are the people and the people are the police. Community policing has become a new trend in law enforcement over the past few decades. Sir Robert Peel is probably the most influential name associated with modern day policing. Sir Robert Peel 's nine principles have a distinct purpose to modern day policing now. Within this paper I will address Sir Robert Peel 's concept of community policing in today 's society, how community policing takes a completely different type of officer, how community policing …show more content…
can be a valuable asset to a community, and how community policing can be used to prevent crime.
Sir Robert Peel 's Concept of Community Policing
In our diverse society, it is necessary for police to understand the different cultures that make up the communities that they patrol. This can be accomplished through multi-cultural training and education. According to Sir Robert Peel the basic mission of the police existence is to prevent crime and disorder. Peel believed that prevention of crime could be accomplished without intruding into the lives of citizens and this is what he based his concepts of community policing on. Peel also stated that the ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions and they must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the laws to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public. Sir Robert Peel established that police and the people of the community are equal in terms of effective policing. It is extremely necessary to have effective communication between the two in order for any concept to be successful.
Different Type of Officer
It is not unusual to see a police officer speeding 60 or 70 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. Right beside the police car is me and I figure if the police can speed, so can I. In the event of any emergency there is no way no one can stop their vehicles without causing a wreck. What has happened to the law enforcement? Why won 't the police enforce the basics of law today? Why are the police officers not required to obey the very laws they are sworn to uphold? Why do police officers speed? Is it a lack of training? Is it a lack of caring? Is it a lack of understanding?
According to Gianakis & Davis (1998), "Many older officers may have the experience, but do not have the personality traits that are required for a good officer that is out in the community"( p.
486). Community policing also gives more responsibilities to the officers for the same amount of pay which many are just not willing to assume. Training techniques and hiring practices all have to be restructured and renovate which can be costly in large amounts of time and money. In order to make a difference in today 's society, the police department must get out here and give back to the community they serve. I believe that if more police officers would volunteer and mentor at the schools this would promote better police-community partnership. It would show the community that they do care and it starts with our …show more content…
youth.
Community Policing Valuable in the Community
One of the biggest stumbling blocks to the successful implementation of community policing is people. You have people on both sides of this equation that harbor their own beliefs, prejudices or grudges that must be cleared away before a trusting relationship can be developed and trust takes time. The leadership of an organization and how that leadership approaches change can make or break any initiative. In this complex society where ethnic diversity, religious differences, racial divergence, and lifestyle discrepancy are in all of our communities, community policing is more challenging. Knowledge is power and in order for community policing to work there must be a resolution and solution in place. "Community policing is a policy and a strategy aimed at achieving more effective and efficient crime control, quality of life, police services and legitimacy, through a proactive reliance on community resources that seeks to change crime causing conditions. This assumes a need for greater accountability of police, greater public share in decision-making, and greater concern for civil rights and liberties (Freidman, 1996)." According to Trojanowicz (1990), there are ten principles of Community Policing. They are the following:
Philosophy and Organizational Strategy
Commitment to Community Empowerment
Decentralized and Personalized Policing
Immediate and Long-Term Proactive Problem Solving
Ethics, Legality, Responsibility and Trust
Expanding the Police Mandate
Helping Those with Special Needs
Grass-Roots Creativity and Support
Internal Change
Building for the Future
It is clear of what community policing in the future should resemble. With increased Federal funding and a growing criminal justice education will develop the research on policing.
Community Policing Preventing Crime
According to Thatcher (p. 766), "community policing can be a valuable asset to a community but it must overcome many challenges in order to work. The biggest challenge that the police departments must face is that the community or businesses they are trying to cooperate with do not always share the same values". Different core values and basic belief systems are what define institutions and many people are not willing to give them up lightly or compromise for the sake of cooperation (Thatcher, p. 767). One way to keep a community safe is by stopping crimes before they happen. This is the core of community policing. Enforcement of misdemeanor crimes can be seen as a nuisance by community members, but by police staying tough they can prevent major crimes (Thatcher, p. 787). "There are four important tasks in understanding the roles of the police in the U.S. First, policing must be examined within the context of the free and democratic society. It was decided early in the history of this nation that the prevention of crime was the proper role of government. If that could not be accomplished, then moderate rather than severe punishment was more fitting for a free and democratic society. Another early belief was that government is best that governs the least". (Bartolla & Hahn, 1998) ( p. 1). According to Bartollas & Hahn (1998), policing in a democracy requires high levels of integrity if it is to be acceptable to the people. What this means is that the desire to do the right things must act as an internal compass for police officers. Sir Robert Peel 's nine principles are key factors in today 's modern day policing. If followed with the intent on improving relations with the community it can and will be exceptionally triumphant. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions. Police must secure the willing collaboration of the public in voluntary observance of the law and still be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public and community. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it. To be successful, community policing requires the total commitment of the police, citizens and subgroups like business, media, political leaders and social service agencies and other institutions of the community.
Conclusion
If police can relate to and understand the different cultures of the community, they will be able to successfully gain public approval.
Public approval of the police is needed within the community to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement. Sir Robert Peel 's principles and Community Policing go hand in hand and share the same concepts and goals in policing. Community Policing has many underlying principles. It bases the theory that crime prevention is the responsibility of the total community and that police and the community share ownership, responsibility, and accountability for the prevention of crime. There are many obstacles to overcome for community policing to become a successful implementation. Compromise will be needed in giving police the chance to do their jobs without undue attention from the community if they are not overstepping their legal boundaries. This cooperation will make the community safer for the citizens and the job safer for the officer which also goes hand in
hand.
References
Bartolla, C., & Hahn, L.D. (1998). _Policing in America_. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Cordner, G.W., Scarborough, K.E., & Sheehan R. (2004) Police Administration 5th edition. Anderson Publishing Company.
Gianakis, G.A. & Davis, J. (1998, Nov/Dec) Reinventing or Repackaging Public Services? The Case of Community-Oriented Policing. Public Administration Review, 58(6), 485-498. Retrieved March 7, 2010, from the JSTOR database.
Friedmann, Robert R, (1996), Community Policing: Some Conceptual and Practical Considerations, retrieved from the Internet, March 19, 2005 from http://www2.gsu.edu/~crirxf/considerations.htm
Thatcher, D. (2001) Conflicting Values in Community Policing. Law & Society Review, 35(4), 765-798. Retrieved March 7, 2010, from the JSTOR database.
Trojanowicz, Robert and Bucqueroux, Bonnie (1990). Community Policing: a Contemporary Perspective, Anderson Publishing Company.
Sir Robert Peel 's Position on Policing
Kessha Hobson
Survey of Justice and Security
Professor Steven J. Duplissis, J.D.
March 14, 2010
Introduction
The real key for policing is the police are the people and the people are the police. Community policing has become a new trend in law enforcement over the past few decades. Sir Robert Peel is probably the most influential name associated with modern day policing. Sir Robert Peel 's nine principles have a distinct purpose to modern day policing now. Within this paper I will address Sir Robert Peel 's concept of community policing in today 's society, how community policing takes a completely different type of officer, how community policing …show more content…
can be a valuable asset to a community, and how community policing can be used to prevent crime.
Sir Robert Peel 's Concept of Community Policing
In our diverse society, it is necessary for police to understand the different cultures that make up the communities that they patrol. This can be accomplished through multi-cultural training and education. According to Sir Robert Peel the basic mission of the police existence is to prevent crime and disorder. Peel believed that prevention of crime could be accomplished without intruding into the lives of citizens and this is what he based his concepts of community policing on. Peel also stated that the ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions and they must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the laws to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public. Sir Robert Peel established that police and the people of the community are equal in terms of effective policing. It is extremely necessary to have effective communication between the two in order for any concept to be successful.
Different Type of Officer
It is not unusual to see a police officer speeding 60 or 70 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. Right beside the police car is me and I figure if the police can speed, so can I. In the event of any emergency there is no way no one can stop their vehicles without causing a wreck. What has happened to the law enforcement? Why won 't the police enforce the basics of law today? Why are the police officers not required to obey the very laws they are sworn to uphold? Why do police officers speed? Is it a lack of training? Is it a lack of caring? Is it a lack of understanding?
According to Gianakis & Davis (1998), "Many older officers may have the experience, but do not have the personality traits that are required for a good officer that is out in the community"( p.
486). Community policing also gives more responsibilities to the officers for the same amount of pay which many are just not willing to assume. Training techniques and hiring practices all have to be restructured and renovate which can be costly in large amounts of time and money. In order to make a difference in today 's society, the police department must get out here and give back to the community they serve. I believe that if more police officers would volunteer and mentor at the schools this would promote better police-community partnership. It would show the community that they do care and it starts with our …show more content…
youth.
Community Policing Valuable in the Community
One of the biggest stumbling blocks to the successful implementation of community policing is people. You have people on both sides of this equation that harbor their own beliefs, prejudices or grudges that must be cleared away before a trusting relationship can be developed and trust takes time. The leadership of an organization and how that leadership approaches change can make or break any initiative. In this complex society where ethnic diversity, religious differences, racial divergence, and lifestyle discrepancy are in all of our communities, community policing is more challenging. Knowledge is power and in order for community policing to work there must be a resolution and solution in place. "Community policing is a policy and a strategy aimed at achieving more effective and efficient crime control, quality of life, police services and legitimacy, through a proactive reliance on community resources that seeks to change crime causing conditions. This assumes a need for greater accountability of police, greater public share in decision-making, and greater concern for civil rights and liberties (Freidman, 1996)." According to Trojanowicz (1990), there are ten principles of Community Policing. They are the following:
Philosophy and Organizational Strategy
Commitment to Community Empowerment
Decentralized and Personalized Policing
Immediate and Long-Term Proactive Problem Solving
Ethics, Legality, Responsibility and Trust
Expanding the Police Mandate
Helping Those with Special Needs
Grass-Roots Creativity and Support
Internal Change
Building for the Future
It is clear of what community policing in the future should resemble. With increased Federal funding and a growing criminal justice education will develop the research on policing.
Community Policing Preventing Crime
According to Thatcher (p. 766), "community policing can be a valuable asset to a community but it must overcome many challenges in order to work. The biggest challenge that the police departments must face is that the community or businesses they are trying to cooperate with do not always share the same values". Different core values and basic belief systems are what define institutions and many people are not willing to give them up lightly or compromise for the sake of cooperation (Thatcher, p. 767). One way to keep a community safe is by stopping crimes before they happen. This is the core of community policing. Enforcement of misdemeanor crimes can be seen as a nuisance by community members, but by police staying tough they can prevent major crimes (Thatcher, p. 787). "There are four important tasks in understanding the roles of the police in the U.S. First, policing must be examined within the context of the free and democratic society. It was decided early in the history of this nation that the prevention of crime was the proper role of government. If that could not be accomplished, then moderate rather than severe punishment was more fitting for a free and democratic society. Another early belief was that government is best that governs the least". (Bartolla & Hahn, 1998) ( p. 1). According to Bartollas & Hahn (1998), policing in a democracy requires high levels of integrity if it is to be acceptable to the people. What this means is that the desire to do the right things must act as an internal compass for police officers. Sir Robert Peel 's nine principles are key factors in today 's modern day policing. If followed with the intent on improving relations with the community it can and will be exceptionally triumphant. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions. Police must secure the willing collaboration of the public in voluntary observance of the law and still be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public and community. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it. To be successful, community policing requires the total commitment of the police, citizens and subgroups like business, media, political leaders and social service agencies and other institutions of the community.
Conclusion
If police can relate to and understand the different cultures of the community, they will be able to successfully gain public approval.
Public approval of the police is needed within the community to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement. Sir Robert Peel 's principles and Community Policing go hand in hand and share the same concepts and goals in policing. Community Policing has many underlying principles. It bases the theory that crime prevention is the responsibility of the total community and that police and the community share ownership, responsibility, and accountability for the prevention of crime. There are many obstacles to overcome for community policing to become a successful implementation. Compromise will be needed in giving police the chance to do their jobs without undue attention from the community if they are not overstepping their legal boundaries. This cooperation will make the community safer for the citizens and the job safer for the officer which also goes hand in
hand.
References
Bartolla, C., & Hahn, L.D. (1998). _Policing in America_. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Cordner, G.W., Scarborough, K.E., & Sheehan R. (2004) Police Administration 5th edition. Anderson Publishing Company.
Gianakis, G.A. & Davis, J. (1998, Nov/Dec) Reinventing or Repackaging Public Services? The Case of Community-Oriented Policing. Public Administration Review, 58(6), 485-498. Retrieved March 7, 2010, from the JSTOR database.
Friedmann, Robert R, (1996), Community Policing: Some Conceptual and Practical Considerations, retrieved from the Internet, March 19, 2005 from http://www2.gsu.edu/~crirxf/considerations.htm
Thatcher, D. (2001) Conflicting Values in Community Policing. Law & Society Review, 35(4), 765-798. Retrieved March 7, 2010, from the JSTOR database.
Trojanowicz, Robert and Bucqueroux, Bonnie (1990). Community Policing: a Contemporary Perspective, Anderson Publishing Company.