Question

Many police departments have encountered difficulties in implementing COP. Why do you think it has been so difficult to translate the rhetoric of COP into reality?

Answer 1

Rhetoric of COP (Community oriented policing) is based on the idea that it can effectively control the crime rate, reduces the anti-social activities as well as reduction in the fear of crime among the people with the help of people in the community. Though,  it becomes difficult to translate the persuasive idea of COP into reality due to the different reasons.  The first reason is the difference in values, moral and ethical principles in different communities. It means that what is considered illegal such as farming of drugs, is actually considered perfectly legal and okay in another community. So, in reality, the standard regulations cannot be implemented and it becomes in conflict with the community's own culture and values. It make implementation of effective COP to be very difficult. The second reason is the cost of implementing COP. I reality, COP requires effective monitoring, training, and review of the work done under COP. It requires a bigger network to be managed. It increases the expenses. So, transforming COP into reality becomes difficult. The third reason is the state regulations that vary in each state. It makes the scope and boundary of work under COP to be limited in the sense that one person doing the crime, where COP is implemented, may not be caught if that person goes hiding in another state, not following COP and regulations not recognize it. So, COP cannot be translated into reality with ease.