Applying a police strategy to a crime problem

Apply a police strategy to a crime problem

Select a crime or disorder in neighbourhood
Required to select a strategy lecture 6-10 define describe how it work
Provide explanation of how n why it might be implemented n useful in dealing with the particular crime or disorder problem…


This paper will analyse the level of ** crime in the neighbourhood of **( Charnwood, Northwest Canberra). In this particular neighbourhood, the above mentioned crimes are prevalent, and in addition, armed robberies have also taken place.

Anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods can cause numerous issues and disruptions in society. There is a strong association between alcohol and anti-social behaviour in our society. Within the local neighbourhoods, this may include drunkenness, clubs serving alcohol after hours, inappropriate use of public space, graffiti, abandoned vehicles that may have been stolen, excessive noise coming from business and organisations, inconsiderate and violent behaviour, as well as malicious communication and verbal abuse.

Problem oriented policing (POP) would be a good strategy to counter anti-social behaviour in this neighbourhood. This strategy would be particularly useful in cases where such issues are already present and a long term solution is required, such as is the case here. Community policing in the neighbourhood could do better with the supplement of problem oriented policing. POP is also the problem solving approach adopted by the police. This approach is widely practised in many policing communities.

The POP model

The SARA model is the key to the problem solving process. This four stage model serves as a guide for the problem solving approach adopted by the Newport News Police Department.**(why Newport – say what’s significant about this police dept) . The SARA model involves the following elements:

1. Scanning: This - refers to how the officers identify the cause of a crime or issue in the community.

2. Analysis: This process includes how officers investigate and identify all key members who are part of the problem. It also involves analysing actions taken to solve the problems.

3. Response: This is a process of an officer developing a proactive solution according to the results of a careful analysis of the issues that were the source of the problems. The solution will be more effective in eliminating or reducing the problem. It could reduce or eradicate harm, hence dealing with the problem more effectively.

4. Assessment – This action is to evaluate the process the officer has gone through in scanning, analysis and responding. It is an important step to evaluate if the intervention of the problem solving has resulted in a success. This ensures time and resources used are accounted for by the police to the community.


The Case:
Reason for POP
As iIt would not be cost effective to provide this suburb with additional random or directed patrols. Therefore, the POP approach is highly recommended. The appointed beat officer would be able to implement the four-stage problem-solving process of the SARA model. The POP approach requires police officers to take ownership of an issue to intervene, manage and solve (Dr. Mazerolle, L. 2001). It requires an objective outlook at the issues in the patrol beat and addressing the root causes of the problems.

Scanning
The Charnwood residence complained that the groups of youth and young adults loitering in the neighbourhood are a nuisance. Residents of the town houses surrounding the main shopping area started complaining about their mails being stolen from mailboxes earlier last year, in 2006. Mails that were targeted were those that looked like they particularly those containeding cheques or money orders were often targeted. As the issue was not addressed, more serious crimes started surfacing.

From 2006 until this present moment, there werehave been at least 3 arm robberies reported by the media at the Charnwood shops. Gangs of youths have started to instil fear into shop owners and residences by hurling verbal abuse and threats.

The goal of POP is to prevent/deterremove these groups of children and young adults or gangs loitering around residences and Charnwood shops who are contributing to the fear of anti-social behaviour in the area from loitering around residences and Charnwood shops. It also aims to educate shop owners and the labour club on how to avoid armed hold ups.

Analysis

Mail box crime occurs in the afternoon when most residents are not home and are usually still at work. By observation, the school children start loitering at the hotspots after school hours, which is around 3pm. The older youths and gangs normally start to appear in the evenings and loiter around the shopping areas until late. In the evenings, the Charnwood shops are normally quiet and most shops are closed by 7pm. The only open businesses are Woolworths, Video Ezy and the labour club. There are normally not many visitors to the area after 8pm. Charnwood shops are extremely deserted with poor lighting, making it easy for crime to take place.

Response

By holding meetings with the residents, the residents are encouraged to keep an eye out on those who loiter around the area. They are also encouraged to make their presence known to the children and youths during the evenings between 4pm and 6pm. Random patrols are still conducted on a frequent basis. The police officers will also visit homes of children and youths caught in the act of stealing mail or in fights and serve them a warning in front of their parents. In addition, the police officers will meet with business owners who were victims of armed robberies and encourage them to hire security officers and have security companies patrol the Charnwood shops after hours to provide a presence to deter any criminal intent. Police officers have also encouraged residences and business owners to call crime stoppers if they notice any suspicious activities or individuals around.

Assessment

As a result of the police guiding the business owners through ways of crime prevention, security companies were contracted by the businesses. The security companies were mainly present during after hours at business premises which had later trading hours and random patrols were carried out by the security companies, between 12 midnight and 7am. This move has seen promising results in previous months where no robberies occurred. Residents have noticed a decline in mail box theft. Residence and business owners are also more alert to any anti-social behaviour and have contacted the police in the instance of such cases.

Conclusion

The reason POP worked in Charnwood is because as the police provided sufficient support to the community in identifying issues and their root causes. Residents and business owners were proactive, open to suggestions, and were keen to eliminate the fear of crime threats of robbery and anti-social behaviour. However, common citizens are not experts in the criminal field. Hence, they sometimes require guidance or suggestions which are what the police could provide. Crime prevention requires the participation of all parties. Third party policing is commonly used in POP. In this instance, security companies were contracted as observers, reporters and to provide a uniform presence to deter of criminal activities. POP is specific and targeted towards problem solving. POP is proactive, rather than reactive policing strategy and as such, would be the recommended approach that police should use where possible.



References

Bennett T. (1990) Evaluating Neighbourhood Watch, Gower Publishing Company Limited, England.

Rosenbaum D. (1994) The Challenge of Community Policing, Sage Publication, London.


Dr. Mazerolle, L. Policing in the 21st century: What works and what doesn’t, (2001) 4th National Outlook Symposium on Crime in Australia, New Crimes or New Responses, convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology


Australian Institute of Criminology, http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/other/2004-03-policingt.html, viewed 1 May 2007


Australian Federal Police, http://www.afp.gov.au/act, viewed 3 May 2007


Belconnen Community, http://www.belconnen.org.au/chs.htm, viewed 9 May 2007