The Home Beat Officer

An important link between the police and the community is the local Home Beat Officer. The Home Beat Officer is attached to a particular beat and, while he or she is on duty, is responsible for that beat. It is his job to get to know it and the people who live there.

In many ways he can be likened to the traditional image of the ‘village bobby ’. He or she patrols the beat on foot wherever possible, which gives the maximum opportunity to meet people and learn their problems.

It is also an important part of his job to get to know, and be known by, school children and he has a special responsibility to give talks to children in the schools on his beat. All this does not mean the Home Beat Officer is just a public relations man. He remains an operational police officer, investigating crimes and arresting or reporting those who break the law ’.

THE SECTOR OFFICER

To give the community a greater sense of security and involvement with police at a local level policing styles have changed from being time based on a shift system to being based on local geographic sectors.

Together with the local Home Beat Officer, the Sector Officer will play a vital role in maintaining close contacts at a local level with innumerable tenants associations, voluntary groups and community organisations etc.

The Sector Officer will form a working group bringing together those who work and live there, other agencies who have a professional or statutory responsibility and local voluntary bodies. Through the Sector Officer the groups can communicate the fears and concerns of the community and provide a forum for solutions which can be agreed and implemented by all agencies working together.

KEEPING THE PUBLIC IFORMED

In spite of all this activity by CLOs and Home Beat Officers, many people have little or no direct contact with the police. They depend on television, radio and the press to keep them informed and it is from these that they form their impressions and expectations of the police.

From the police point of view, it is important that everyone should know as much as possible about the police and also be aware of their obligation to co-operate with the police, uphold the law and protect themselves and their property. There is also the fact that crime of all kinds, law and order, road accidents and congestion form a large part of our daily diet of news and editorial comment and it is important that the media are provided with accurate information.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14