NCJ Number
195136
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: 2002 Pages: 169-189
Date Published
2002
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the findings on citizen opinions about policing policy in two Belgian (Flemish) cities.
Abstract
Since the 1990's community policing has been practiced by the Antwerp police as a form of a decentralized and neighborhood-oriented kind of team policing. A more modest and partially geographical decentralization was also undertaken in Mechelen. There were two main strategies: (1) more control on the street and better protection of private and public property; and (2) social workers paid more attention to “at risk” groups and treatment for drug addicts. Opinions on the appreciation of the local governance of crime were obtained using focus group interviews. Results showed that, although crime was an important factor, personal conflict was a main reason for feeling unsafe in the neighborhood. There was a low level of respect for norms and values. Residents in both cities criticized the lack of coherent vision by police top management and local authorities concerning police and security policy. Community policing remained underdeveloped because of a lack of training and supervision. Residents experienced the openness of the police towards the public as selective. With regard to the social measures taken, the focus group participants thought that too many projects had too little continuity. Keeping track of projects became a full-time activity. Communications between the local authorities and the public was unsatisfactory. There is a need for better local government that stops the degradation of the neighborhood and improves the quality of life. Despite the community policing innovations, residents in both cities observed that most policing remained embedded in a traditional crime-fighting style with little interest for the local situation. Globalization has altered social context and changed the meaning of community police. The current social context offers little opportunity for consensus, a lack of clarity on the level of governance, the difficult relationship of ethnic minorities, and the fear of crime against the low level of crime in Belgium. In this society, problem oriented policing may be seen as more realistic than community oriented policing. Community oriented policing would be restricted to the dominant, more affluent, highly education groups that were more law-abiding. 4 notes, 49 references