What are the arguments in favor of requiring local police to perform duties not directly related to crime prevention? What are the arguments against requiring local police to perform such duties? Where do you stand on this matter? Why?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: The Police can be defined as a group of trained people who are bestowed the right to administer law and order in the society by the government. They are mainly appointed to safeguard the public from crimes and criminals. The principal duty of police is to ensure that peace and harmony is maintained in the society by controlling crime and apprehending the criminals and therefore, they are vested with the power to use force whenever necessary.
Apart from the primary duty of curbing crime, the police do many other duties which are not directly related to crime prevention like; locating missing children or people, solving domestic issues and counselling the parties involved in it, administrating emergency medical aid, governing and regulating the traffic, managing large hordes of people during political rallies or carnivals and rushing to help people trapped in natural or man-made calamities.
Local Police carrying out the duties not directly related to crime prevention have a lot of advantages. The Local Police are delegated the task to handle the law and order problems arising in a particular locality. As such they are the concerned authorities who are available always and whom people approach in times of crisis. The general public also has a fair amount of fear and respect for the police and mostly obey their orders because police are granted the right to arrest or also use force whenever required. So, people generally adhere to rules due to the fear of arrest or punishment by the police. Apart from having the knowledge of their area of jurisdiction, the local police are the nearest center of assistance for the people of a particular locality to contact in times of emergency and therefore, people can register their complaints of missing children or their loved ones immediately. The local police can also rush to the houses in their vicinity from where they are called to solve domestic violence and also give warning to the people who are inflicting violence on their spouse or children. The perennial traffic congestion is also handled efficiently by the local police by enforcing traffic rules, as they are familiar with their area. When there is a gathering of a large number of people, it becomes essential to control the crowd as there is a fear of sudden riots or stampede. The local police are able to manage the crowds as they get prior information about the gathering. The local police are the first people to speed to the places where accidents or any natural disaster take place and therefore, it becomes possible for them to lessen the gravity of the situation.
But, there are certain disadvantages in local police performing these extra duties as the police are already burdened with the duty of controlling crime in the society and arresting the offenders, which itself is a mammoth task as the rate of crime is always on an increase despite stringent measures taken by the police force. Performing other tasks takes a toll on their valuable time and energy. Stress due to work overload is widespread in the police force and the police also face depression and anxiety because of work pressure. The other duties might result in delay and laxity in responding to crime and criminals.
One can favor local police to perform duties not directly related to crime prevention as people of a particular locality look up to the local police for any help and have full faith that the local police will solve their problems. The local police stations are the quickest to reach to by the people living in the neighborhood. Some situations require quick and urgent action and the local police with their authority and powers are able to handle the situation adroitly. Over the years, a sense of affinity is developed between local police and locals and this helps the local police to maintain peace and harmony in their area with the cooperation of people of the locality.
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