Problem Solving Policing

"The basic mission for which the Police exist is to prevent crime and disorder ... the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action dealing with them"
The foregoing statement was made by Robert Peel - in 1829. The concept, therefore, is not new.

So, how does this relate to the present? Well, Problem Solving Policing is about policing more effectively by the simple expedient of targetting resources at the source of a problem with the intention of solving the problem in partnership with others. In this way the demands placed upon the Police Service can be reduced.

Problem Solving Policing is about solving the underlying problems (e.g. Anti-social behaviour, Youth Disorder etc;) rather than dealing with the symptoms as a sole contributor.
Such problems, however, are not always reported. As a result a multi-agency approach is being considered as, perhaps, a more efficient way of resolving the problems.

What constitutes a "Problem"?

A matter of substantial community concern, or a number of similar, recurring, and related, incidents.
For example: speeding vehicles, juvenile disorder, repeat car theft, anti-social neighbours or domestic violence.
NOT EVERYTHING IS A PROBLEM - AND NOT EVERY PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED
From a Problem Policing standpoint 'Problems' break down into three component parts - Features of:
  • Location
  • Offender
  • Caller/Victim
Solution

Take the foregoing features and visualise them as a pyramid. Remove one or more sides and the pyramid collapses - Problem reduced or solved.

To be most effective Problem Solving Policing works best when police officers are linked to specific communities where they can take ownership of problems. Within Q Division each sub division has a team of dedicated Community Police Officers - with specific responsibility for their geographic areas. Geographic Policing, however, is not Problem Solving. It is merely a structure that supports it. 

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