DAY 8- Police Omnipresence

“Police are public, and the public is the police.”

Sir Robert Peel

One police activity is police omnipresence. What is omnipresence? It is a state of being omnipresent (1). Clear enough? Well, omnipresent means that you are always present without actually being there. I, together with the Tourist Police of Legazpi City, under the supervision of PLTCOL DENNIS B BALLA, Chief of Police, conducted patrolling and random visitation of establishments such as inns, hotels, and other industries around the area of operation. I enjoy doing fieldwork. It is like having a vacation while working.

During this task, I realized that making people feel your presence is problematic. Today, solving cases is easier with the power of smartphones and digital cameras that are as rampant as the population. The concept of omnipresence is likening the Police to CCTVs: You can’t see me, but I am with you.

The concept of police omnipresence can be improved and made more effective with the help of technology. Technology has enhanced different industries, and for safety and security reasons, it will surely benefit the greater good of Police and civilians alike. With technological support, police omnipresence may suppress and lessen the occurrence of crimes.

Effective law enforcement requires the conscientiousness and efficiency of the Police in their obligations and liabilities. While in their assigned areas, they should be punctual and attentive. They should always respect the human rights of the people they serve. They must stick to their routine to ensure they would be more visible.

Our current Police should also be equipped with the right technology. For instance, a two-way radio could make the job of the police command more efficient because this can ease reportage. The creation of chat groups can speed up communication. Virtual meetings enable us to cascade information faster and cheaper.

Today’s Wrap-Up:

In psychology, the theory of the Hawthorne Effect states that people perform better when being observed. This is almost similar to the police omnipresence concept. People, especially traffic law violators, and acts as simple as crossing the pedestrian lanes tend to cross the street when observed than not. This tells us that the community should feel the presence of the Police for them to both not commit a crime and, at the same time, feel secure with the local Police.