NCJ Number
195134
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: 125-146
Date Published
2002
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article examines community policing in the Caribbean.
Abstract
Community policing has been considered in the Caribbean because traditional law enforcement approaches are not working well, and because of its great popular and political appeal. Community policing is defined as collaboration between the police and the community that seeks to identify and solve community problems. All members of the community become active allies in the effort to improve the safety and quality of life in the community. The number and kinds of citizens’ complaints against the police have implications for the level of public confidence in the police. In the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago, there is a high public fear of crime, widespread public concern over escalating serious crime and violent robberies, and complaints about police. A random sample of 450 households across Trinidad and Tobago was analyzed to determine what extent the public was aware of or involved in community policing. Results showed an obvious gap between the favorable police impressions held by the public and their willingness to cooperate in community policing activities, and their knowledge of or involvement in any community policing activity. The community-policing program has not effectively used public willingness and readiness. Police service was deemed quite average in terms of three human resource capacities -- organizational ability, learning ability, and team spirit. Constables and middle managers were somewhat satisfactory in fast track decision-making, problem identification, reward structure, flexibility, and program support. Many officers fell within the high-risk condition for learning readiness in individual learning ability. These results, especially for front-line constables, suggest that these are areas that need systematic attention for improvement and building confidence among such officers. More work needs to be done for both the community and for the internal needs of the service itself because community-policing programs should be matched and supported by human resource development within the police service. 1 figure, 5 tables, 2 notes, 55 references