POLICE METHODOLOGY
POLICING BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE
Stephen T. Dodd, a retired detective constable from the Force
Intelligence Bureau at South Wales Police discusses how the power of neighbourhood-generated information should not be underestimated
Is there a solution within current policing structures to simultaneously stimulate community engagement, extract more intelligence and restore trust, enhance officer buy-in and improve community safety? A characteristic of a policing priority is the dual challenge of combating crime whilst boosting public reassurance. Advancing technological capabilities designed to tackle diversification, intensification, and the evolution of crime trend patterns, be it serious organised crime, economic or cyber-crime, the drug trade, rape and violence against women, human trafficking, political activism, is arguably having a detrimental effect on the perception of public accessibility to police. A consequence for the establishment
is to have to repeatedly reassure that the primary responsibility of government is the safety of the nation and its citizens. Fortunately, the tenet of community policing is well established having been
40 | POLICE | APRIL | 2024
reinforced in popular culture over the last few decades through a myriad of policing programmes. There is reassurance to be taken as frontline interventions and local models of community safety have become so familiar with the public that civic collaboration has become fundamental to ‘police and crime planning’. The National Police Chiefs’ Council
“It can be taken as unconfirmed,
impact on crime as a characterful neighbourhood encouraging positive bonds of inclusivity will enhance police co-operation.
uncorroborated, unsolicited, or even non- specific gossip. It is essentially directed by the individual citizen’s disclosure, whilst nonetheless untargeted, it is straight from the heart of a community.”
vision for the future of policing states, ‘In summary, this is policing’s vision of where it wants to be by 2030, to deliver a police service that is effective, inclusive and trusted by the communities it serves’. A strong, loyal, healthy community is intrinsic to the debate as it can positively
Community intelligence is of the people, by the people, for the people. Community policing is at the heart of civil society. Law enforcement is an adhesive that cements various factions together in a community of any size or type, be it cultural, religious, ethnic, or race divergent. This can be further qualified by gender, age, socio-economic, or sub-categories in the case of suburbs, districts, hamlets, zones, wards, area and regions. A purpose of police
intelligence is to interpret societal characteristics formerly from within, then subsequently in relation to each other as the challenge is to obtain as much information as possible from each division. Local communities, nor the public, realise or understand the value of the information
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