Community Based Policing Approach Notes

UNIT 5: THE COMMUNITY BASED POLICING APPROACH

Unit Outline

  • Session 1: The Concept of Community Based Policing
  • Session 2: Factors That Accounted For the Adoption of the Community Based Policing Approach
  • Session 3: Police Professionalism
  • Session 4: The Benefits of Community Based Policing
  • Session 5: Police Civil Liability
  • Session 6: Challenges to the Community Based Policing Approach

Overview

  • This unit introduces the concept of Community Based Policing (CBP), detailing its rationale, components, and the benefits for both law enforcement and the communities they serve.
  • It addresses the necessary policy responses and challenges, notably the organizational cultural change that police forces must undergo to effectively adopt their revised roles within the community.

Unit Objectives

By the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Explain the community-based policing approach
       - Define what community-based policing entails and its philosophy.
  2. Highlight the factors that accounted for the community based policing approach
       - Discuss social, political, or economic reasons that drove the adaptation of CBP strategies.
  3. Determine the benefits of the community based policing approach
       - Enumerate advantages for both police forces and communities, such as increased trust and cooperation.
  4. Identify and explain the challenges of community based policing
       - Scrutinize internal and external pressures that may hinder effective implementation of CBP.
  5. Identify factors responsible for police civil liability
       - Explore the legal implications and circumstances under which police may be held liable for civil wrongdoing.
  6. Understand the concept of police professionalism
       - Detail the defining traits of professionalism within law enforcement and its importance in CBP.

SESSION 1: THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY BASED POLICING

  • Welcome to the first session focusing on the concept of Community-Based Policing.
  • Emphasis is placed on ensuring a robust foundational understanding of this concept, as it is crucial for comprehending the topics discussed in subsequent sessions.
  • Engaging in this session will set the parameters for understanding the community-based policing approach, facilitating smoother learning as the course progresses.