Community Policing revolves on one of the basic principles that was written by Sir
Robert Peel wherein he wrote that "to maintain at all times a relationship with the public
that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public
are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time
attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community
welfare and existence " (9 Policing Principles, Sir Robert Peel, Father of Modern
Policing System). Police reacting to particular requests from individuals or groups in the
community is known as reactive policing, which includes "rapid reaction to calls" and
"follow-up investigations." Police responses to 911 calls or calls about loose animals in
the neighborhood are a few examples of reactive police work. Proactive policing is
anticipating occurrences in order to prevent crimes and collaborate with the community
to reduce crime. Proactive police tactics have a lot of promise for preventing and
reducing crime, as well as improving officer-community relations. Traditional thinking
suggests that the mere presence of a police vehicle will act as a deterrent to crime
(Trojanowicz et al., 2002).
In the Philippine setting, Community Policing is a system that links and bonds
the police to the community and creates a stronger and cohesive community interaction.
Exchanges of information are fast due to established Police Community Relations.
Everyone knows one another, talks to and trusts each other, and confident that their
police can be relied upon for keeping the peace and making the community safer.
Policing the community can be done through three (3) types of activities: patrol
activities, organizational work and community interactions.
Police-Community Relations is a slowly evolving policing system that is being
adopted by police organizations worldwide. This policing system can be equated with
diplomacy such that even the subjects of policing actions view the system as the most
acceptable form of police-community interaction to ferret out crimes, ensure public
safety, or maintain peace and order (PNP PCR Manual, 2012).
Edward Davis, the Chief of Police of California from 1969-1978, postulated that
the ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of
police existence, actions, behavior, and the ability of the police to secure and maintain
public respect. The police feel public acceptance when its existence, actions and
behavior are not routinely criticized, maligned, or branded with unacceptable languages
or treated with synonymous situation that can already be considered as a hostile
environment. The need for public acceptance is imperative as it will truly be difficult for
police officers to work under a stressful scenario as it can also spark human emotions
and cultivate friction points (PNP PCR Manual, 2012).
The PNP shall be a community and service-oriented agency responsible for
the maintenance of peace and order and public safety. The PNP shall be so organized
to ensure accountability and uprightness in police exercise of discretion as well as to
achieve efficiency and effectiveness of its members and units in the performance of
these functions (RA 8551).
Additionally, Republic Act 6975 stated that the policy of the State to promote
peace and order, ensure public safety and further strengthen local government
capability aimed towards the effective delivery of the basic services to the citizenry
through the establishment of a highly efficient and competent police force that is
national in scope and civilian in character. Towards this end, the State shall bolster a
system of coordination and cooperation among the citizenry, local executives and the
integrated law enforcement and public safety agencies created under this Act. The
police force shall be organized, trained and equipped primarily for the performance of
police functions. Its national scope and civilian character shall be paramount. No
element of the police force shall be military nor shall any position thereof be occupied by
active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
