Bob Yirka is a writer for Phys.org.
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In six countries in the Southern Hemisphere, community policing did not improve trust in police or reduce crime rates. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes how they conducted experiments to test the effectiveness of community policing. Santiago Tobn has published a Perspective piece in the same journal issue explaining the ideas behind community policing and outlining the work done by the team.
Police officers spend more time in their local communities as a result of community policing. They are expected to get to know the people and learn more about their problems in order to help when they can. The idea is that such efforts will improve trust between police and the public they are sworn to serve, and that members of the public will be more forthcoming and cooperative in helping to identify those who commit a crime. The researchers wondered if community policing works in countries with different crime histories, such as those with low incomes.
To find out, they set up six field studies. The efforts of local police, people in the community and community leaders were required. The researchers tracked the results after police started a community policing policy.
The field studies found that community policing did not improve trust in the police or impact local crime.
A research article was published by Science earlier this year looking at the possible role of gender and race in police and civilian interactions in Chicago. The impact of racial disparity on the U.S. prison system was the topic of an introduction to a special issue published by Science.
Community policing does not build citizen trust in police or reduce crime in the Global South. There is a science.abd3446
Community policing in the developing world is written by Santiago Tobn. There is a science.abm4112
Science journal information.
The Science X Network will be launched in 2021.
Community policing was found to be ineffective in improving trust or reducing crime.
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