Pitfalls of the Introduction of Community Policing (From Police and the Community in the 1990s: Conference Proceedings, 1990, P 39-47, 1991, Sandra McKillop and Julia Vernon, eds. -- See NCJ-132447)

• NCJ Number: 132451
• Author(s): J Jarratt
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

From 1984 to 1990, New South Wales, Australia, experienced certain pitfalls associated with the introduction of community policing.

Abstract

One of the initial and continuing pitfalls was the inability of the Police Service to record ideas and practices effectively. The Police Service also discovered the importance of having a clear view of where the organization was going and the need to establish effective alliances and partnerships. Police officials identified many issues and goals that needed to be dealt with or achieved in order to implement community policing. These issues related to structural change, police and citizen perspectives on community policing, and the generation of manuals to guide activity and performance. It was found that the existence of large centralized branches in the New South Wales Police Service tended to prevent the creation of a decentralized and responsive command structure that is necessary in community policing. Police officials determined that the challenge of transitioning to community policing would be compounded if communication channels were not well understood. They also found that the success or failure of community-based policing cannot be linked to one individual; rather, supporting alliances and partnerships and alliances that emphasize the positive are necessary. 6 references