Chapter 6: The Practice of Policing

Prepared by Rochelle Stevenson
University of Windsor
Copyright © 2017 Nelson Education Ltd.

Preventive, Reactive, and Proactive Styles of Policing
  - Preventive: Intended to deter crime before it occurs.
  - Reactive: Responding to crime after it has happened.
  - Proactive: Actively gathering information to prevent crime from occurring.
Problems with Reactive Style of Policing
- Discusses the limitations and critiques associated with reactive policing practices.
Understanding the Broken Windows Model
- Examination of why this model gained popularity in policing strategies.
Differentiate between Problem-Oriented and Community Policing
- Identifying the characteristics and goals of each approach.
Controversy Around Zero-Tolerance Policing
- Analysis of criticisms of this policing strategy.
Intelligence-Led vs. Predictive Policing
- Differences between these two data-driven policing techniques.

Dominant Practice of Policing: Patrolling is the prevailing method utilized in policing efforts, with the following three main types:
  - Preventive Patrols: Aimed at deterring crime.
  - Reactive Patrols: Responding to crimes that have already occurred.
  - Proactive Patrols: Focused on collecting information to better understand and prevent crime.

Definition: Incident-based policing grounded in random patrol, rapid responses to incidents, and reactive investigative efforts.
Association: This approach aligns with the professional model of policing.

Patrol Officers: Deploying marked patrol cars allows officers to respond quickly to reported crimes.
Routine Observation: Officers conduct general surveillance to detect criminal behavior.
Rapid Response: Leveraging technology to facilitate quick intervention.
Measures of Success and Efficiency:
- Focus on response times and arrest rates as indicators of effectiveness.

Components of Investigation:
- Preliminary Investigation: Conducted by patrol officers who gather initial information, assist victims, and make arrests if necessary.
- Follow-Up Investigation: Handled by detectives focused on more detailed investigations, including routine, secondary, and tertiary activities.

Knowledge Gap: Police often have limited understanding of local communities.
Fear of Crime: Reactive patrols do not alleviate public fear regarding crime.
Efficiency Measures: Traditional metrics may not accurately reflect police effectiveness.
Community Stereotyping: Reactive strategies can lead to biased enforcement practices.

Differential Response: Adjusting responses based on the nature and severity of incidents.
Clearance Rate: Utilizing arrest and clearance rates as measures of efficiency in policing outcomes.

Key Questions:
  - Does random patrol effectively deter crime?
  - Does rapid response impede criminals?
  - Are reactive investigations successful in solving crimes?

Benefits: Increases positive interactions between officers and community members, resulting in decreased fear of crime and improved perceptions of safety.

Focus: Targets specific areas of elevated criminal activity.
Tools: Incorporates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for resource allocation and crime mapping.

Focus: Centered on the gathering and analysis of information to inform strategies for crime control.
Components of Proactive Policing:
  - Hot Spots Patrol
  - Broken Windows Theory
  - Problem-Oriented Community Policing

Understanding Crime Distribution: Recognizes that crime is clustered both temporally and spatially.
Resource Allocation: Police resources are directed to high-crime areas, known as