Creating Safer Communities for Children and Youth: The Role of the Police in Crime Prevention

Abstract

The authors examine the role of the police in crime prevention in the Canadian context, based on in-depth interviews with police officers in six police agencies across the country. They explore core policing functions and consider the role of the police in crime prevention. They discuss three recent studies of crime prevention practices in Canada, and focus in particular on Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPSD). The authors conclude that social development issues are not often seen as part of a core policing function. They argue that the police are in a unique position with respect to CPSD since they are well positioned to facilitate an integrated, multi-agency response to social problems. An alternative role for the police is discussed which would consolidate their law enforcement and crime prevention roles through the facilitation of an integrated problem solving approach based on partnerships with other service agencies. A number of recent studies have examined the role of Canadian police agencies in crime prevention including programs and activities aimed at youth. In this article, we consider several types of crime prevention and then present a brief overview of recent Canadian research describing the role of the police in crime prevention. We then discuss the results of our own research on this subject that is based on interviews with police officers at different ranks, from six police agencies across the country. We conclude by considering the role that the police could play in crime prevention and how this might influence the future of policing in this country. Crime Prevention Strategies It is clear that the police in Canada have a long history of involvement in crime prevention activities (Vallee, 2010). Beginning with initial efforts at preventing previous offenders from reoffending, police involvement in crime prevention today encompasses a wide array of programs and activities. Sherman et al. (1997) identify the following as major varieties of crime prevention: 1. Numbers of Police 2. Rapid Response 3. Random Patrols 4. Directed Patrols 5. Reactive Arrests 6. Proactive Arrests 7. Community Policing