Neighbourhood Police Beat
Operational Features
Ownership
A Beat Area Officer (BAO) is given primary responsibility for a
defined area to enable efficient and effective use of policing resources.
Long-term commitment
The officer must develop a sense of belonging and ownership with his or her
defined area. This ensures that the officer becomes acquainted with community
members to concentrate energy in the areas that require it most.
Problem solving
The officer analyses calls for service for his or her defined area to identify
repeat addresses or problems. Once identified, a problem-oriented and partnership
policing (POPP) approach is adopted to solve or reduce this problem.
Operational duties
Where available, the officer must attend calls for service within his or her
defined area and is an operations officer. The Criminal Justice Commission
(CJC, 1995) suggests that the Neighbourhood Police Beat program is a 'different
type' of operational policing. The officer may use tools such as negotiated
response to make effective use of time management, problem solving and follow-up.
Follow-up of call for service
The officer is responsible for following up calls for service within his or
her defined area to aid in problem solving to address specific issues.
Negotiated response
The officers utilise negotiated response methods to control their time more
efficiently, in line with established guidelines.
Last Updated: 09/12/2005