Partners Against Crime: From Community to Partnership Policing

Partnership policing developed when the model of police paternalism that was embedded in community policing, evolved into a new concept of agents work

Partnership policing developed during the 1980s when the model of police paternalism that was embedded in community policing, evolved into a new concept of independent agents working together in partnership with formal structures.

This form of policing conforms to the ideal of a `multi-agency approach` whereby the police, the public, elected officials, government and other agencies work in partnership to address crime and community safety. Increasingly, comparative experiences suggest that the approach of incorporating a professional police service and a responsible public seems to be the most effective and fruitful way to create a safer environment. Countries that have established, or are in the process of establishing the `partnership approach`, are, in particular, the United Kingdom, Australia, Holland and South Africa. With no single model to fit these different contexts, those involved in policing are constantly having to use their initiative to formulate `what works` for them.

Each country is tailoring the concept to suit its own environment, people and crime problems. Basically, this is the essence of how partnership policing should be operationalised on a local level. Success stories have shown that, to create safety in all communities, local players must adapt the various partnerships to their own needs. The principle of local solutions for local issues is very important to the development of partnership policing in South Africa, where such diverse communities live side by side.  

Author

Sarah Oppler, Contract Researcher, Crime and Policing Project, Institute for Security Studies