SARDAR PATEL UNIVERSITY OF POLICE

AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE,JODHPUR

TOPIC: COMMUNITY APPROACH IN CRIME

PREVENTION IN RAJASTHAN

PRESENTED BY: Kunal Gupta & Mohit Singh

M.sc. In criminology 1st semester
COMMUNITY POLICING IN INDIA: EVOLUTION AND VARIOUS MODELS

Community Participation
A community refers to a social unit in a geographical area which
shares common values, cultures and concerns. Community
participation or community engagement denotes some form of
involvement of people with similar needs and goals, in decisions
affecting their lives. Panchayati Raj model is a classical example
of community participation in the sphere of local self-
governance.
The community participation can be sponsored or self-initiated.
Sponsored community participation is generally invoked by
external agencies such as State, civil society organizations, NGOs
etc.
COMMUNITY POLICING

A policing philosophy that promotes and

supports organizational strategies to address
the causes of crime, to reduce the fear of
crime and social disorder through problem-
solving tactics and community-police
partnerships. - Community Oriented Policing
Services Office
John Angell (1971) coined the term democratic policing to
describe community policing. Community policing simply put is a
new philosophy of policing in which the police departments and
the law abiding citizens work together in creative ways to address
the contemporary community problems.

There are three primary elements of community policing as

Follows:
Community partnerships, which involves forging of partnership
between the police and the citizens of an area.
Problem solving, which involves identification and redressal of
problems that give rise to crime and disorder.
Organizational transformation, which involves transforming
organizations to respond to community needs more effectively.
The following are the other salient features of the community
policing:

People have the opportunity to decide how police services are to

be carried out in the community. It allows them to have greater
voice in addressing their concerns and enhances the overall quality
of life in their neighborhoods.

It follows the principle of participatory process of development. It

recognizes the peoples participation as it is not possible for the
police alone to reduce crime and disorder that threaten a society.

It offers a different connotation to the role of the police in a

society. It widens the mandate of police beyond the traditional
focus through a personalized approach to address community
problems.
 Objectives of Community Policing
The main objective of community policing is to bring down the
crime rates by improving public police partnership. It is aimed to
solve local neighborhood problems by preventing and detecting
crimes, restoring law and order and bringing down the crimes
against women and weaker sections of the society. It wants to
ensure proper coordination among various departments and
agencies to ensure safety and security of the community.
Community Policing is a better alternative to bureaucratic model of
policing because the bureaucratic model limits the contact
between police and community. It also fails to provide equitable
and impartial policing to all sections of the citizens. In this scenario,
community policing offers cost effective and participative crime
preventive approaches.
 COMMUNITY SPECIFIC ADVANTAGES

Improved immediate environment.

Empowerment of communities and redressal of their grievances.
Creation of positive attitude towards police.
Prevention and reduction in the fear of crime.

POLICE SPECIFIC ADVANTAGES

Easy detection of crimes and effective patrolling.

Paves way for work satisfaction.
Improved police-community relationship.
Decrease in police citizen conflict.
Better flow of information between police and community.
EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT
The concept of community policing gathered momentum in many countries
of the world in 1970s and 1980s. In recognizing the widening gap between
the civilians and police officials, the countries like Japan, England, Germany,
Canada, Singapore etc. were exploring the alternatives to their professional
bureaucratic model of policing.

In India, community policing was prevalent in ancient India. In fact, the key
feature of ancient police system was its community orientation. The
references to police organization and specific powers of law enforcement
with preventive, investigative and prosecuting duties can be traced back to
Maurya era.

During medieval India also, a village chief called Mukaddam or Sarpanch used
to work as a police officer and used to maintain law and order with the help
of village community. At further upper levels, the Muhasil or Gumastha,
representatives of Fauzdar, Khwaza and Musarif used to help the community
policing.
During British era, the law and order passed into the hands of
Zamindars as per changes made by Lord Cornwallis. A uniform
police force was established with Darogah in every district. The
Darogahs were made responsible to district judges. However,
community policing had lost its whatever relevance.

In independent India, the law and order was made a state subject
and some states tried to implement the community policing. For
example, West Bengal had a programme called the Village
Resistance Group to deal with dacoits in rural areas. In Gujarat and
Maharashtra, community policing programme called Gram Rakshak
Dal was established. Similarly, in Karnataka enactment of
the Karnataka Village Defense Parties Act of 1964, which became
operational in 1975 aimed to establish community policing.
SOME OTHER PROMINENT COMMUNITY POLICING INITIATIVES WORTH MENTIONING
WAS STARTED AT VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY:

JANAMAITHRI SURAKSHA PADHATHI, KERALA

FRIENDS OF POLICE MOVEMENT (FOP), RAMNAD DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU.

COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUPS, UTTARAKHAND.

MOHALLA COMMITTEE MOVEMENT TRUST,MUMBAI.

 JANAMAITHRI
SURAKSHA PADHATHI,
KERALA
Government of Kerala launched Janamaithri Suraksha Project in 20 selected Police
Stations in March, 2008. As on today Janamaithri Suraksha Project is implemented in
248 Selected Police Stations (20 Police Stations in 2008, 23 Police Stations in 2009, 105
Police Stations in 2010 and 100 Police Stations in 2012) The project has made
tremendous impact on Kerala Society. Further a number of initiatives such as
establishment of Coastal Vigilance Committees, Road Safety Programmes, etc. are
being implemented in the State. These programmes also are based on the philosophy,
principles and practices of Community Policing. Since Community Policing involves a
philosophy of policing which is distinct from the traditional approach to policing, it is
of crucial importance that appropriate training inputs are given for developing the
right attitude and for imparting the relevant knowledge and skills.
 FRIENDS OF POLICE
MOVEMENT (FOP),
TAMIL NADU

The FOP Movement is a Community Policing initiative and a JGO (Joint Governmental
Organization) that aims to bring police and public closer. FOP helps to promote crime
awareness among the people and enables prevention of crimes. It imparts fairness,
transparency and impartiality in the working of police. FOP helps the police in their turn
in restoring the lost faith of the public in police. This is a useful holistic and proactive
concept and a tool to transform the image of the police, strengthen the force and create
attitudinal changes both within the force and among the public. This community policing
initiative is worth trying in every nation and every district. It is a formula and method of
sharing police power and responsibility with the public in an increasingly complex and
dangerous world. The movement has been well received not only among FOPs but also in
the wider public, other States and Union Territories (UT) and voluntary associations.
 COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUPS,
UTTARAKHAND.

A well-developed mechanism for the cultivation of police community

relations is an accredited talk of understanding the interactional realities and
symbiotic relationship between democratic society and its police. Community
Liason Croup scheme was launched with a view to. involving the responsible
citizens of the society in policing activities and to. make them a link between
the police and the society.
 MOHALLA COMMITTEE
MOVEMENT TRUST,MUMBAI

It was established in Mumbai in the wake of Hindu-Muslim

riots of 1992 and 1993. Mohallas or beat patrol met regularly
to address variety of issues concerning the community such as
concerns relating to health, education, environmental issues,
issues related to communal harmony etc.
 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
To involve citizens in resolving petty disputes in a
transparent manner, resulting in registration of petty
offences.
To reduce the workload of the police personnel, thereby
making them available for issues deserving greater
attention.
To share the workload of the other agencies of criminal
justice system including courts.
To curb exploitation of parties to a dispute by the formal
legal methods.
To bring peace in the community and foster brotherhood.
To explore the possibility of Near Zero Crime
THANK YOU