Policing Communities and problem solving

Question 1

What is the aim of community policing?

Answer 1

The aim of community policing is to prevent and detect crime through engagement, partnership orientated problem solving and where necessary, enforcement to improve public confidence in policing and reduce the public’s misconceptions and fears.

Question 2

NPP

Answer 2

Neighbourhood policing programme

Question 3

What concerns were raised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in their 2016 PEEL annual inspection on the state of policing?

Answer 3

The main issues highlighted by the HMICFRS inspection were:
Too many abstractions from neighbourhood teams (especially warranted officers).
Reduced visibility and engagement with communities.
Reduction in the provision of information from community.
Police lack of knowledge on how to engage and work with local communities.
Lack of consistency in the use of social media to provide information to the community.
Inconsistency in problem-solving approaches (particularly tried and tested techniques like predictive analysis).
Inconsistent use of anti-social behaviour powers.

Question 4

What are the strands of the MPS partnerships and schools and youth engagement strategy?

Answer 4

Safer schools partnerships – with safer schools officers being borough based with responsibility for multiple schools.

Volunteer police cadets (VPCs) – with VPC co-ordinators aligned to boroughs.

Youth engagement – with YE officers being a recent role. They should work across the BCUs in youth engagement.
Start with safer schools partnership.

Question 5

What are the main aims of the safer schools partnerships?

Answer 5

Keep young people safe.

Reduce crime and the fear of crime.

Improve behaviour in and around schools.

Question 6

What is the purpose of an SSO?

Answer 6

The main aims of a safer schools officers stem from the safer schools partnership, and are to provide:

• Positive engagement to build trust and confidence between the school community (young people, school staff and parents) and the police.
• Improve safety and enhance safeguarding of school community.
• Prevention – help for young people to deal with the risk of becoming victims and support for those who are, creating a safe learning environment.
• Early intervention and diversion for all young people identified as vulnerable.

Question 7

SARA

Answer 7

The SARA process is a systematic way of managing problem solving and problem management that has been in use for some time in problem-oriented policing.

Scanning, analysis, response, assess.

Question 8

The VOLT model

Answer 8

The VOLT model demonstrates the questions you should generally ask while scanning.

• The features of the VICTIM or potential victim.
• The features of the OFFENDER committing the crime.
• The features of the LOCATION where the crime occurs.
• The TIME when the crime occurs.

Question 9

RAT

Answer 9

Routine Action Theory.

Clarke and Felson developed the routine activity theory, or RAT as it’s known, which argued that crime is a normal function of society and is largely based on opportunity. They stated that most crimes are petty incidents which go largely unreported – crime is usually not dramatic or spectacular but mundane.

The basic premise of RAT is that, in order for a crime to take place, you need three elements to come together:

• Firstly you need a suitable target – this can be a person, object or place.
• Secondly, you need to lack a capable guardian, i.e. something that adequately protects the target.
• Thirdly, you need someone able and willing to commit that crime.

Question 10

CRAVED

Answer 10

A suitable target is one that is CRAVED. Generally, the more CRAVED qualities that a target has, the more likely it is to be a target of crime.

Concealable. Removable, Available. Valuable. Enjoyable. Disposable.