Police Officer Attitudes and Problem Oriented Policing
INTRODUCTION:
Problem-Oriented Policing, unlike traditional policing techniques, is based on rational and logical approaches to solving a crime or policing issue. It was first proposed by Herman Goldstein and is basically structured around how specific crime and law order problems can be identified, analyzed, and methodologically solved. It focuses a lot on how you conduct the crime-solving process rather than the end result, which is what traditional techniques focus on. While very path-breaking and innovative in its conception, the implementation of POP has not been without difficulties. There are difficulties at each step of the process. One of the big problems with implementation has been the role and attitude of the police officers themselves.
POP requires a break from the traditional approaches which emphasize reactivity more than proactivity. POP also encompasses the interaction of police with the community and takes into account social factors in the solution of crime problems. The POP methodology is based on the SARA model and involves the following steps:
a. Scanning
b. Analysis
c.Response
d.Assessment
BODY:
One major problem with the implementation of POP has been the involvement, participation, and attitude of the police officers themselves. As POP is a very radical approach and is based on rational and logical methodology, quite unlike usual policing, it could be quite challenging for the officers to implement. The complexity of POP involves no fixed method and tailoring new methods to different crime problems and expanding on that and this could lead to resistance amongst police officers in picking this strategy up. This problem has been compounded by the fact that the public themselves have so much weight on the police efficiency and effectiveness as a sole harbinger of law and order, that it has inculcated attitudes that resist change in the established modes and refusal to accept those standard ways may not be helpful in handling unusual problems. Even having specialized forces does not help this.
CONCLUSION:
One big challenge which remains in the implementation of POP is to change the attitude of police officers towards innovative ways of problem-solving in policing. This may be improved if the staff receives motivation both from within the organization as well as the community
References
((http://www.sandiego.gov/police/about/problem.shtml)
(http://www.popcenter.org/library/crimeprevention/volume_05/01_Gilling.pdf)
