The Method

The Police Chief through a Mission Statement must articulate the department wide Community Based Policing philosophy. Such a statement would include the concept of a partnership between the community and the police in order to create a safe environment.

How does one create this partnership of community and police? The beginning of these kinds of relationships are inherent in programs such as Neighbourhood Watch. This program involves community representatives taking an active part and caring for the security of a neighbourhood. This is achieved through active observation and communication with the police with regards to suspicious persons in the neighbourhood. Another program is D.A.R.E., which involves police officers discussing with adolescents the problems related to drug usage. This program actively involves the educational system with police operations in order to prevent drug problems. These are examples of proactive policing programs which aid in minimising the occurrence of investigations, arrests as well as related court costs.

However, these programs are limited in their effectiveness.The involvement of the public needs to be more pervasive, allowing the community to be involved in joint operations with the police. This approach is in line with the evolution of more civilians into the police departments. Civilian staff are employed to handle office duties freeing police manpower to do the police work. Similarly, volunteers could be actively involved with Community Based Policing program within either the precinct facility or the store front operations to assist the police.

Potential ways of community involvement:

Community and Police Task Force Committee

A cross section of representatives of a defined neighbourhood would be solicited for representation on this committee. Issues related to a neighbourhood area would be brought forth by its representatives and a structured series of meetings would be organized with the local police officer of the area. This police officer would be assigned to the community area on a permanent basis so that he/she would be familiar with the neighbour representatives and citizens, the local issues as well as the establishments of the area. Any new issues arising from these meetings would be tabled and problem solving steps could be:

- Alternative solutions and selection of preferred solution,

- Appropriate actions selected and implemented,

- Follow up on results and feedback on actions taken,

- Modify actions to improve on previous results.

Police Presence

The physical presence of a police officer within a high crime area has proven to be a strong deterrent towards crime. It is imperative that this presence be apparent and maintained. An issue arising from this need for police presence is the limited amount of police manpower. With the Differential Response Concept, incoming calls can be prioritized, allowing more time for the front line police officer to actually walk the beat.

The question arises whether it is better to place the Store Front Units in the middle of a crime infested area, or to establish the community based police operations from a Precinct and service the community from this location. Does police presence mean a new Store Front location in the neighbourhood? Or, does it merely require the police officer to be present, allowing his main base of operation to be located elsewhere? What does police presence mean and how is police presence created?

A police presence can be increased through a network of volunteer groups who would be involved with Community Based Policing programs. The presence of the police would be made apparent through volunteer activities such as an active 'walking' program.

Community Presence

These volunteer groups and activities would unfold as the need to solve local issues manifested themselves. However, the challenge, is to structure the activities of the community groups in such a way that they can be both functional and viable, not only in situations of crisis but also in times of harmony. There should be a thrust for humanitarian events as well as those addressing local problems so that a continuous citizen involvement is maintained. A sense of community identity and territorial ownership is then established.

Police Training

Police officers should be trained not only in the technical skills such as fire-arm handling, but also in the social and human relations skills when dealing with people they encounter. Questions such as 'why teenagers take drugs' should encompass an understanding of the person's family background. If it is dysfunctional, then the question should be raised as to how the police officer can assist in making the family more "whole". The police officer should be sensitive to the problems of the persons involved. The officer can then direct these persons to the right sources for assistance such as social workers in victim services and/or other counselling/personnel agencies. With this assistance, the crime problems can be more satisfactorily resolved and less likely to fall into the repeat arrest, trial, detention and release syndrome.

Planning & Architectural Considerations

Boundaries

If decentralisation of police service is extensive, then the Community Services Unit evolves into the Store Front Units located amongst the neighbourhoods. In such cases, the "beat" boundaries for these smaller units would be determined on similar land use, neighbourhood and geographic basis. Part of the boundary determination would be to analyze whether both sides of a major street is part of a neighbourhood or alternatively what streets act as dividers. In this way, boundaries can be established along neighbourhood entities.

Spatial Requirements

If a police department is planning for a new or renovated police facility, the following factors should be considered. The architectural program of staff and spaces must reflect the Community Based Policing philosophy. Part of the program process is the determination of staff and spaces that are required to meet the Community Based Policing needs.

If committees with community representatives and police staff are formulated, they will need spaces to accommodate their meetings and programs. These would include community meeting rooms, victim services, and community services offices. The Community Services Unit of the police operations could be expanded to include more work spaces and bicycle storage for a new foot patrol/bicycle unit.

Traditionally the Community Services Unit was located remotely behind a security zoned area of a division or headquarters facility. With the advent of Community Based Policing, the Community Services Unit should be brought forward towards the front of the building and be completely accessible to the public from the main reception area. Supporting these community spaces would be the public washrooms, water fountain, visitor seating, bulletin board and display/telephone areas. In effect these spaces and staff are dedicated to Community activities and given over for their use within the Police Facility. Although these spaces should be zoned separately from the operational areas, the above meeting rooms could be multipurpose and shared with the police.

Site Planning of Police Facility

It is important that these community spaces are positioned in close proximity towards the front of the building and with understandable road access and visitor parking spaces. A drop off area and sloping curb with minimal grade difference between the outside grade and the front door would allow for ease of entry for the disabled public. These public spaces and access should be positioned such that they do not interfere with cruiser and police staff vehicle access/parking and operations. It is important that the public entrance is separated and removed from the suspect and staff entrances.

The signage of the building is important. The identification of the police station should be clearly visible from the main street near the building front. Landmark features such as tall flag poles or the logo of the police department on the penthouse, or perhaps an architectural feature would distinguish this building as the local police station. The main road sign, the building signage as well as the entrance/parking signage should be sized and located to allow for easy comprehension by the public entering from the street and into the building. This exterior signage system should be coordinated with the interior room signage for consistency of graphics.

Architectural Character

The architectural expression of a police facility should be appropriately designed to reflect the Community Based Policing concept. Although the safety of police staff must be maintained, a sense of openness and invitation should be created in the public area. Sheltering canopy, warm material textures, plant material, and skylights are elements which could be used. Further, the manipulation of these elements towards a more residential character would reinforce positive associations with the citizens' own domestic environment. The friendly image of the police facility would contribute towards the effectiveness of Community Based Policing.

Copyright 1996 by Nelson Wong, President of Nelson Wong Architect Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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