INTRODUCTION
The concept of Communal responsibility for maintaining social order is as old as that of society itself. It is primarily concerned with the concept of prevention of crime and disorder through cooperative efforts.
Community Policing is based on the idea that in order to solve crime, Police must obtain information from the residents of the community in which crime occurs. But, if residents are hostile and suspicious of Police, they are less likely to provide information. The roots of community Policing are difficult to trace. Some are of the view that it has always been with us. Others have rated the similarity of it with beat Policing. According to Mollie Weatheritt, Community Policing is a potent concept. It is an ideal as much as a method of Policing. Ferame H. Skolnick and David H. Barly have observed that there are four elements occurring again and again under the banner of Community Policing.
I) The Community based Crime prevention, ii) Re-orientation of patrol activities to emphasize non-emergency servicing. iii) Increased accountability to the public and, iv) Decentralization of Command, including under certain circumstances.
According to this concept, the Police and the Community share both the responsibility for and the power to decide the nature and shape of Police services for that Community. It also advocates that discretion and accountability should be decentralized. it is very easy to understand the concept but practically very difficult to implement. Banton calls it informal way of Policing and believe that it is not suitable for Western democratic societies, due to two major constraints:
The high degree of individualism which characterizes most of the Western Societies, is going to limit the effectiveness of any form of Policing which relies heavily on the collective endeavors of community.

2) Another obstacle to the development of Community Policing is related to the collaboration of Police with other agencies in the Communities. Here, problem can arise regarding the sharing of information between agencies.





OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO COMMUNITY POLICING

I) LIMITATION OF RESOURCES:

Many of Police officers in Scandinavia according to a research when asked about the Community Policing responded; "Community Policing is a good idea" provided
that we are given additional manpower it demands. Is it a fact that more manpower is required in order to implement Community Policing? There is intact no answer to this question. But this is a very regular demand from many Police forces and rightly so because there will be a need for more Police in order to have more close contact with people.

II) COMMAND ACCOUNTABILITY:
Community Policing demands de-centralization of authority and command but contrary to this the structure of Police is based on para-military hierarchy. Thus as a general proposition one should conclude that the more hierarchal and centralized the accountability system of Police, the more difficult it will be to introduce the Community Policing program.

III) THE AMBIGUITY OF COMMUNITY:

What is Community?

It is definitely an inherent ambiguous idea. It implies a commonality of interest, values, identities, demands and expectations. The modern developments have made the Police so busy that it is almost impossible for them to maintain real contact with public. So far as the other social types of obstacles are concerned, they are related to the hard facts of society and can not be changed, for example you can not change a heterogeneous society into a homogeneous one, in order to implement the concept of Community Policing more effectively.

One can conclude that Community Policing does not necessarily mean informal way of policing. It is rather a formal way of Policing and demands more public involvement and help in fighting against crime. The Police in this system remain a public service and a formal department of the Government.

IV) -CLARITY OF THE CONCEPT IS REQUIRED FOR ITS SUCCESS:
Attention must be paid towards the clarity of the concept of Community Policing and removing the ambiguities because unless the concepts are clear to people and Police it will be difficult to see the success, even though the efforts are very sincerely made.


V) A MOVE TOWARDS SOFT POLICING:
There was a lot of criticism from the left. Some of them said that it was a move toward soft Policing.

VI) POLICE NOT A SOCIAL DEPARTMENT:
Another criticism is that Police is a crime control agency and not a social department.

VII) NOT SUITABLE FOR URBANIZED SOCIETY:
Alderson was also criticized with reference to urbanization. It was claimed that people are already too busy, how they will give time to Police in urbanized societies.

VIII) IT'S EASY TO EXPLAIN BUT DIFFICULT
TO IMPLEMENT:
Still it is claimed that Community Policing is a concept easy to explain but very difficult to implement.

IX) PASSIVE PUBLIC ATTITUDE:
Majority of people (public) are passive thus widening the distrust.

X) POLICE MAY LOOSE CONTROL:
Revitalizing Community Relations means Police to loose control in certain areas. This requires consultation, understanding, negotiations and co-operation between Police and Community.

XI) POLICE NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION:
For effective policing it is essential on the part of police that it should accept the importance of Community participation.

XII) POLICE OPPOSE OPENNESS:
It is difficult to persuade our officers regarding the need of openness.

XIII) MAJOR STRUCTURAL CHANGES REQUIRED.

XIV) HOW TO MOULD THE PUBLIC.

POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS

WHAT IS "POLICE – COMMUNITY RELATIONS" ?

Police - Community relations may be defined as a sharing process where the public and the police can obtain better understanding, demonstrate a willingness to participate in working toward the solution of community problems, and in general, create an atmosphere where this sharing process may be witnessed on a continuing basis, Momboisse has offered a definition of police - community relations which places stress on the importance of the contribution of each individual policeman:

"Police - Community relations means exactly what the term implies - the relationship between members of the police force, and the community as a whole. This includes human, race, public and press relations, This relationship can be bad, indifferent, or good, depending upon the attitude, action and demeanor of every member of the force both individually and collectively."

There are three levels at which police - community relations can be promoted:

(1) During the course of a policeman's every day duties, e.g., enforcing laws, investigating offences, crime prevention activities, and informal police - citizen contacts;

(2) Specific programs designed to promote community relations and observance of the law, e.g., talks lectures, involvement in sporting activities, work with boy's clubs, safety programs. Many of these activities take place during normal working hours and are considered part of the members regular duties;

(3) Community involvement as a citizen: policemen as private citizens have civic obligations the same as anyone else Many policemen feel that there is a greater onus on them to become involved in community life because of their professions. Like the doctor or the judge, the police officer cannot dissociate himself from his profession. It will be difficult at times to determine whether the officer is participating as a policeman or because of personal commitments as a private citizen. He cannot hide his identity and should never attempt to do so. It matters not what the motivation is, policemen are citizens of the community and have civic responsibilities the same as anyone else.

Well known criminologist, A.C. Germann, aptly describes the relationship between community relations and policing, policemen and the public:

We can no linger afford the luxury of simplistic judgment whereby the community and the police cry "shame" to each other. We must quickly come to appreciate that community policing is a matter of shared responsibility and total involvement of all
citizens — whether or not they wear badges. We must quickly come to appreciate that the policeman is simply a citizen who gives his fill time career attention to matters which must be the responsible concern of all citizens. We must quickly come to appreciate that the policeman is a mirror of the community and barometer of community values —good or bad.

POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONSACTIVITIES:

Properly understood, police community relations programs have a preventive thrust. They serve to bring the public and police together to work on preventing crime and to provide remedies for problems before a crisis takes place. Police community relations programs should therefore operate on the premise that the best way to control to crime is to prevent it, rather than to walk the streets armed with weapons. Community relations programs are generally based on various components: public relations, community service and collaboration with the local community on crime prevention activities.

POLICE - PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Police may employ the communications media and personal contacts to influence public opinion favorably. Relations can be promoted through such activities as newspaper articles and news releases or radio and television. Free time could be made available by radio and television for public service broadcasts. Programs could include police - public relations messages, police news and personal safety programs. Talk programs could be arranged at civic and religious places to strengthen public relations involving personal contacts. Other programs such as distributing informational pamphlets on crime - prevention activities in various fields such as business could be the best way to enhance the police -public relationship.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Police stations and centers as police community - relations centre could be established to provide the police with the opportunity to help citizens on a personal, one - to -one basis. Each police station would have one section which would be able to deal with problems brought to them by residents of the neighborhood. This section of the station could carry out various activities such as neighborhood - police meetings, coaching athletic teams, helping citizens who do not understood them. There could be other programs that provide the police with a positive visibility as well as perform valuable services in the community. The following programs could be a sample of policy community - relations programs that try to fulfill the criteria of public relations and public service.

CITIZEN CRIME PREVENTIONPROGRAMMES:
Citizen crime prevention programs are ways of enlisting the public to cooperate with police in combating alarming increases in the crime rate. These programs provide the extra eyes and ears that alert the police to suspicious persons or acts.

The benefits of the citizen crime prevention programmed are two fold-The program services community relations function because of the large number of citizens it reaches and it gives the citizens a chance to help the police department with encouraging results.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE
PREVENTION OF DRUG ABUSE:
The Police community relations section of police station may deal with the drug problems and can initiate various programs in accordance with the situation of the community. Such programs as narcotics education at home and in school could be the best community based measured to curb drug abuse in general and also help in getting clause about drug trafficking. Such initiative naturally helps gain the public's confidence in the police. Police may initiate other programs with the help of social workers, conscientious citizens and community leaders. Police may also organize meetings and discussions with community leaders about drug abuse and trafficking to gain public co - operation in the fight against drugs.

COLLABORATION WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ON CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES:

Police departments can employ the social work concept of community organization for a team work approach to problem solving. The basic objective of this approach is police community relations is to develop better two way communication between the public and police and to bring together all the resources needed. The complex problems of an urban environment have proved difficult for law enforcement agencies of handle alone. Generally, three types of arrangements for this approach to community relations could be considered; a city wide advisory committee, meetings with neighborhood advisory committees and police community workshops.

CITY WIDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

This is a vehicle by which high officials of the police department and the city's leading citizens can meet and exchange ideas about problems and policies. This committee functions as a liaison between the police and the community and can provide solutions to police community friction.

POLICE - COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS:

The main objective of such workshops is to bring a number of policemen and citizens together so that each group can be made aware of the damaging stereotypes that they have of each other and learn how these stereotypes affect their attitudes and behavior. The highlight of each session comes when both groups agree to form a basis for co - operation so that future problem solving can be done constructively.

Thus, effective crime prevention and investigation cannot be achieved through the efforts of criminal justice agencies alone, instead, every possible societal resource must be mobilized to that end. Moreover, public co - operation is absolutely necessary for re - integration into society of offenders undergoing community - based treatment.

After speedy but fair investigation, diversion or suspension of prosecution can be appropriately applied to enhance offender’s cooperation with law - enforcement agencies.

POLICE PRESS RELATIONSHIP:
The Police do not have to be popular. Their survival in society is guaranteed. However, if the journalist is to survive, he has to please the widest possible audience. Black says in his book;

"Operating with the frame work of the law the police will often have to defend an individual against society, while the media having to please the majority".

Such a situation will occur for example when the police set up roadblocks following a kidnapping, a measure they consider absolutely essential to defend the victim and society, these same road blocks, imposing restrictions and limiting the freedom of the individual, may lead to protest from citizens which will naturally be reflected by the media. When the friction does occur between the police and the press, as it invariably does in every community, it frequently emanates from the events surroundings a major crime or unusual occurrence. In the case of major crimes for example the police will often try not to release information that they believe would jeopardize the successful conclusion and prosecution of this investigation. The policy of news media on the other hand is to inform the public what exists is a clash of goals.

A good relationship with the press should be sought so as to inform to wide audience police activities and to improve the police image.


CRIME PREVENTION - A PUBLIC
AND POLICE RESPONSIBILITY

If we look back to the history of the English policing we see that in1680 crime prevention was the responsibility of the community. It came as response to the increasing need for protection stemming from the sudden and rapid growth of towns which drew their populations from people migrating into areas where new industries were developing. Under this system the citizens organized themselves to patrol the streets at night in ,order to maintain some semblance of peace. Later supplementation with a day - watch system afforded the towns, a form of twenty - four hour vigilance and protection. Citizen organization to maintain law and order has existed even earlier. In earlier Anglo - Saxon England, every citizen was responsible for the King's law in his own tithing (a group often families),and was required to report offences known to him to a shire reeve (from whence came the eventual office of sheriff) who was appointed by the king to maintain law and order in the shire or country. Annual delegation of law enforcement duties to tythings on a rotating basis followed, with paidsubstitution of one by another being permitted.

The watchman system proved itself inadequate to deal with the problems of the day and Sir Robert Peel, looked upon as founder of the modern police force, persuaded parliament that the only effective method of enforcing the law and preventing crime was through an organized police body. A consequence of his efforts was the passing of the MetropolitanPolice Act 1829, and the formation of the London Metropolitan Police inthe same year. This was the first completely organized police force and it
began its operation with an establishment of one thousand men. Thetradition of paying for the services and equipment of those keeping thepeace had been established by King George III, in 1777, with taxationdesignated for that purpose first levied by King George II in 1737.

The purpose of the brief sketch of the origin of the police presentedabove was to show that the police idea arose from the necessity of citizensto organize themselves to prevent crime. The responsibility for keeping thepeace and for maintaining the King's Law rested with the people, and to thisday, this has not changed. The tything and watchman systems of keeping thepeace failed but the idea of citizen responsibility was carried over to Peel'spolice force. The policeman was to be seen as nothing more than aresponsible citizen from the community who had been chosen, given verylimited extra powers, to protect his fellow citizens from the ravages ofcrime. The two cornerstones of the police idea in a democratic society must be seen as Crime Prevention and Citizen Responsibility for Law and Order.

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