"The police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence." Sir Robert Peel-"Father of Modern Policing,"
The Nine Principles of Policing- Sir Robert Peel
1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder. 2. The ability of the police to perform their duties depends on public approval of police actions. 3. Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public. 4. The degr ee of cooperation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity to use physical force 5. Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law. 6. Police use of physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advise and warning is found to be insufficient. 7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence. 8. Police should always direct their attention strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary. 9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
The municipal workplace is constantly changing. We will periodically post informative documents with current best practices on a variety of topics. These sample guidelines, forms and policies can be modified for your municipality to assist with your prevention efforts.
