Policing that involves the community

Engaging the community in enforcing law and order can improve safety and security

The huge public response to the We Are All Police initiative by Abu Dhabi Police reflects a sense of responsibility within the community. As reported yesterday, a thousand members of the public have already completed training and will soon start to assist full-time police officers in the streets and at major public events, and another 5,000 applicants will be processed. This collaboration between the police and members of the public is very important in helping control crime rates, reducing disorder, increasing a general feeling of safety and raising awareness about local laws and individual and social responsibility. Research shows that informal mechanisms of social control can actually play a greater role than formal mechanisms based on traditional, reactive, enforcement-based policing.

The idea of community police has been successfully implemented in Japan, which is one of the safest countries in the world. It’s believed that the country’s good security conditions have been underpinned by the system. What makes them different is that community police members are part of the community and engage in activities that are closely related to the daily life and safety of residents, offering the first response to any emergency.

Having community police is particularly important in the UAE, which hosts many nationalities. Involving people from different backgrounds could help break barriers, change perceptions and improve relations between residents and the police. It will also empower communities to report unlawful acts when they see them.

There is also a parallel between these new community police and a new method of dealing with minor court cases. A law has been proposed that would speed up the processing of minor infractions, such as bounced cheques of low value or drinking alcohol without a licence. Rather than proceed to court, a verdict and fine could be handed down within a matter of days.

In both these cases, the courts and the police are freed up to handle more dangerous and demanding cases. By ensuring that some of the more low-level cases and the more straightforward aspects of policing are handled by others, it means that highly trained police officers and judges can apply themselves to difficult cases, thereby speeding up the system for everyone and ensuring their expertise is used effectively.