T122 The police and neighborhoods safety

Are foot patrols in a viable concept in Trinidad and Tobago?

Sometimes deemed old fashioned by the rank and file, foot patrols may be effective not only as a means of curbing crime in neighborhoods, enhancing community partnerships, and keeping officers in touch with local activity, but also as a means for departments to lessen the impact of high operating costs. Historically, foot patrols are the oldest form of police patrol work in order to maintain order. The use of foot patrols decreased substantially in the last century before reemerging as a community policing tool in many countries. The benefits, mainly in the form of community goodwill and improved police-citizen relationships, may help to explain the recent resurgence in this practice throughout the years. Coupled with the high gas prices, especially in the United States, foot patrols are once again being used as a community policing tool.

However in the tropical island of Trinidad and Tobago, it is uncertain whether this endeavour will be successful in our streets and in our communities. Our multi-cultured nation makes it difficult to predict the outcome of any new proposed programs such as foot patrols. It is also difficult to predict the acceptance of foot patrols in our communities by the citizens. Some may view it as an invasion of their privacy while others might openly accept such a program. Looking at the reactions of the citizens is only one outlook; we should also consider the police officers attitude towards foot patrol. It is suggested that many police officers dislike foot patrol for varying reasons such as it is hard work and it reduces their efficiency in crime fighting. From a personal point of view, foot patrolling in this region might be unpleasant due to the weather and the location. Hot spots such as Laventille is definitely not a viable location for foot patrols. Some may even view it as a form of punishment.

Experts doubted that foot patrol would have any impact on crime rates; even historical evidence supports the claim that foot patrols had a small effect on crime. Crime prevention and

community satisfaction with police services, while linked to the number of officers on the streets, does not depend entirely on the visibility of patrol officers. Community engagement, targeted initiatives, strategic use of resources, and data-driven decision-making contribute to decreasing crime. Foot patrols should be perceived and promoted as an important component of the departments strategic operating plan. For years, police departments rejected foot patrol as out of date, expensive, and irrelevant to contemporary policing. In most cities, it was not an integral part of police patrol strategy and it carried low status among officers, was often regarded as a "public relations" activity, and was frequently used to punish poor performance. There is currently a State of Emergency (SoE) place up in our country and there is definitely an increased presence of the police force. However there has not been an extensive use of foot patrols, mostly vehicular patrols and this can be seen as a lack of faith in the use of foot patrols.

On the other hand, the presence of foot patrols can contribute to a feeling of safety. The residents of foot-patrolled neighbourhoods seem to feel more secure than persons in other areas. In addition to a safer community, foot patrols provide the officers with the best possible opportunity for understanding what goes on in the community. Technology has improved and officers are no longer tied to a patrol car for radio access. The flexibility afforded by this form of patrol should be a consideration for every department as it assesses its resources and develops strategies for providing a powerful and coordinated response to crime. Incorporating foot patrols as part of a departments overarching strategy can bring changes in the community that would be unachievable through traditional vehicle patrol alone. Foot patrols have been critical to many communities across the country, strengthening the bonds between community members and officers while providing a coordinated effort to prevent and solve crime.

Foot patrol strategy needs to consider assignment of foot patrol locations, available staffing, resources, size of the beats, selection of officers to beats, and safety of the officers. To be successful, it is important that the foot patrol strategy is deployed on a permanent basis; therefore, a department must plan carefully to ensure that resources are not over committed. The

size of the foot patrol area has a direct impact on the goals and objectives of the foot patrols within a beat location. The area has to be small enough to allow an officer to patrol it several times during a shift. Taking this into consideration, the small size of our country and the additional recruitment of police recruits; could work in our favor because it becomes more doable and may possibly even help to lower our soaring crime rate. Trinidadians are frightened by violent crime but the fear of being bothered by disorderly people should also not be overlooked. Although it can be argued that Trinidadians are known for their free spirit, and friendly nature, which can be translated as disorderly to outsiders, there is a societal boundary that some may cross to become a public nuisance. For instance, the drug addicts, drunkards, prostitutes and delinquents would be forced to be on their best behaviour if there was a constant police presence in their community. Using a combination of patrol styles also allows an officer to cover more than one foot patrol location may produce better results.

Successful foot patrols include more than just walking around. Specific planned programming and community engagement strategies must be incorporated into the process. Community stakeholders need to be active partners in the deployment of foot patrols. Training community members, businesses, and other stakeholders in crime prevention, environmental issues, neighborhood watch strategies, being effective witnesses, and problem solving will assist in reducing crime. Stakeholders can contribute by taking action in the form of citizen patrols, graffiti eradication, youth programs, and trash removal. Other municipal agencies can assist with enforcing codes, developing youth programs, enhancing lighting, and removing visual barriers. Officers assigned to foot patrols must have the training, resources, and support to develop and implement programs that address the specific needs of the beat area. Citizens will have more confidence in the police force and welcome their presence once the program is implemented properly.

The significant obstacles to foot patrols have been the dwindling numbers of officers and an increase in the coverage area for which they are responsible. As previously mentioned, the

increased number of police recruits may diminish the gravity of this issue, however the necessary training and experience needed is a factor to be reflect on. Foot patrols may be perceived by some departments as inefficient because vehicles cover more ground more quickly; however, the statement made to the community through a police presence on the street speaks of the investment being made in the safety of every resident. Business owners, patrons, and residents welcome an increased police presence in a community troubled by petty crime and vandalism. Another drawback may be that the officer becomes too familiar with the people of the neighbourhood and lose objectivity. This is indeed a risk that should be taken into consideration because if the officer of the area becomes lenient to some of the neighbours then he would not be disregarding his duty and possibly putting the others at risk.

A foot patrol strategy that incorporates the planning elements that should result in a cooperative effort between the community and the police and increase the quality of life within the community. This cooperative effort may also lead to a higher level of trust between the community and the police, more citizen involvement, and a community that starts to hold its members accountable. However this stipulated success is debatable and can be judged as a matter of opinion. It should be noted that at the community level, disorder and crime are usually linked. In reference to the old-time days, the saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child. We valued our communities and raised our children with help from neighbours and due to this culture crime was indeed lower. Globalization and technology has changed many aspects of our lives, we seem to no longer value our communities. The belief of every man for himself is widespread and crime is raging out of control.

The philosophy of the broken window as indicated by the author is if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This seems to ring true. In neighbourhoods such as Westmoorings, window-breaking does not occur often whereas in other neighbourhoods such as Morvant, breaking more windows costs nothing and it is a sign that no one cares. The use of the broken window is used as a metaphor for criminal

activities to support my point. Police officers tend to respond more quickly to areas such as Westmoorings and take twice as long to respond to hot-spot areas such as Laventille. The police force is already under scrutiny. There should no discrimination. Such areas that are venerable to criminal invasion needs more if a police presence and foot patrol combined with other forms of control may be exactly what this country needs. The elderly, the children and the wealthy are no longer safe. Crime is no longer discriminating. The results of several experiments on foot patrolling in several countries suggest that while foot patrol may not reduce crime, it reduces citizen fear of crime. Residents see their communities as safer and better places to live, and are more satisfied with police services.

We have reached to the point where the young people are to be feared. For instance if an adult saw a gang of teenagers on the street he would probably cross the street to avoid them. We are living in fear and our country is besieged by criminal activity related to the growing illicit drug trade, police branches across the country are confronted by a difficult challenge of how to do more with less. While fiscal constraints force departments to cut back their service, crime rates and citizen demands for service continue to increase. Police departments must find more costefficient and productive ways to do their job. We are losing faith the police service. To residents, the police force is ineffective and uncaring. The citizen may soon stop calling the police because they believe that they cant do anything. The concept of feeling perfectly safe in their neighborhoods and low crime is a thing of the past. For instance, a mother and her daughter was violently raped in their own home, if the service of foot patrol was implemented in their neigbourhood this heinous crime couldve possibly been avoided. It is possible that the citizens will be demanding foot patrol because frequent, close contact with the police would make them feel more secure.

Close contact between police and the citizenry helps the former develop first-hand information about crime and possible criminal behavior. Such information systems are likely to have a positive long-term impact. The discovery of plots should not be left up to Ian Alleyne. I

attempted to discuss the feasibility of foot patrolling in our country in its current state but it seems that I have swayed to the belief that it might just be a worthy cause. Nothing in life is a guarantee and there is no way to find out what works from what doesnt unless we try different things. Police-citizen relations need to improve in our country and the spiraling crime needs to be reduced and controlled. Despite the skepticism and bleak findings, foot patrolling has some merit in Trinidad and Tobago. An additional officer on the street and in our communities will make the greatest difference in promoting a sense of safety, reducing crime and enhancing the quality of life in our communities. The nation ought to recognize the importance of maintain, intact, communities without broken windows.