Planning and Strategy

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STRATEGY AS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANNING

 

AIMS OF POLICE STRATEGY AND TACTICS:

  1. The attainment of police objectives with the maximum of success.
  2. The attainment of police design with a minimum of effort.
  3. The lessening of risk in police operations.
  4. The coordination of various police elements in the undertaking of the joint task for operation.
  5. The minimization of friction and misunderstanding between police and the public.
  6. The attainment of basic police purpose in the enforcement of laws.
  7. The attainment of total police effectiveness through the integration of physical, scientific, technical, and psychological processes.

IMPORTANCE OF POLICE STRATEGY

  1. Controlling of mobs and crowds
  2. Handling of prisoners and suspects
  3. Police raids on buildings and places
  4. The capture of barricaded criminal hideouts
  5. The quelling of prison riots
  6. The handling of parades and demonstration
  7. Police actions in civil defense
  8. Responding to a bank robbery alarm
  9. The technique of riot control
  10. Mobile and foot patrol
  11. Actions during disasters and calamities
  12. The control and regulations of traffic
  13. Protective securities to VIP’s and dignitaries
  14. Action during labor strikes
  15. Surveillance and undercover works.

STEPS IN PLANNING

The following steps provide an orderly means of the development of plans:

  1. FRAME OF REFERENCE. This shall be based on a careful view of the matters relating to the situation for which plans are being developed. Opinions or ideas of persons who may speak with authority on the subject and views of the police commander, other government officials, and other professionals shall be considered.
  2. CLARIFYING THE PROBLEMS. This calls for the identification of the problem, understanding both its record and its possible solution. A situation must exist for which something must and can be done.
  3. COLLECTING ALL PERTINENT FACTS. No attempt shall be made to develop a plan until all facts relating to it have been gathered. In the series of robberies, all cases on files shall be carefully reviewed to determine the modus operandi, suspects, types of victims, and such other information as may be necessary. Facts relating to such matters as availability, deployment, and use of personnel shall be gathered.
  4. ANALYZING THE FACTS. After all, data have been gathered a careful analysis and evaluation shall be made. This provides the basis from which plans or plans are evolved. Only such facts as may have relevance shall be considered.
  5. DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE PLANS. In the initial phases of plan development, several alternative measures shall appear to be logically comparable to the needs of the situation. As the alternative solutions are evaluated, one of the proposed plans shall usually prove more logical than the others.
  6. SELECT THE MOST APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES. Careful consideration of all facts usually leads to the selection of the “best” of alternative proposals.
  7. SELLING THE PLAN. A plan to be effectively carried out must be accepted by the persons concerned at the appropriate level of the plan’s development.
  8. ARRANGING FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAN.  The execution of a plan requires the issuance of orders and detectives to units and personnel concerned with the establishment of a schedule and the provisions of manpower and equipment for carrying out the plan.
  9. EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN. The result of the plan shall be determined. This is necessary in order to know whether a correct alternative was chosen, whether or not the plan was correct, which phase was poorly implemented, and whether additional planning may be necessary.

Virtually, every problem in law enforcement and public safety leads to a thorough and systematic analysis of the process of planning. The said process of planning was clearly discussed in the STEPS IN PLANNING from Frame of Reference up to Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Plan.

This aforementioned STEPS IN PLANNING would result in an orderly means for the development of plans. The general emphasis of police planning, therefore, is identical, if not similar to an industry whose ultimate objective is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the current operations in law enforcement and public safety. This is in consonance with the broad goals of RA 6975, which is to conserve manpower and budget and to provide better law enforcement and public safety, managerial efficiency has been the byword.

EXECUTION OF PLANS. Once plans are made, the same shall be put into operation and the result thereof evaluated accordingly. Operations on the public safety service shall be directed by the chiefs or commander to attain the following objectives:

    1. Protection of lives and property
    2. Preservation of the peace and order
    3. Prevention of crimes
    4. Repression and suppression of criminality
    5. Apprehension of criminals
    6. Enforcement of laws and ordinances and regulations of conduct
    7. Safeguarding of public health and moral
    8. Prompt execution of criminal writs and processes of the court; and
    9. Coordination and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies

 

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