Violence and Police Protection

In order to feel secure, people must believe that the police will be there for them if they are needed. If people do not feel secure they will seek to protect themselves by owning a gun. People in violent areas need guns because they need the security that guns provide.

People must meet threat with threat. If people feel threatened in their own neighborhood, the best protection is to have a threatening reputation. People can become nonviolent citizens of their community only when they feel secure.

Therefore, quality police protection in every neighborhood is of great importance. There must be enough police officers available to respond quickly to calls. Police should especially focus on the "bad" neighborhoods. Increasing police staffing and training may be costly, but the cost of not doing so is far greater. While this is not the only solution to prevent violence, but it is one step that needs to be taken.

What we should do:

• Increase perceived legitimacy of police. (The belief that 'the police are there to protect me.')
• Be sure there are enough officers to respond to call load.
• Increase patrols of crime hot spot areas.

More Information:

• Policing for Crime Prevention
• Background Briefing - Race Riots