Opinion (Pedro Franco / Intendant of PSP): THE PROXIMITY OF POLICING PSP.
THE PROXIMITY OF POLICING PSP. The Security begins in each of us.
Pedro Franco
Intendant of PSP
Degree in Police Sciences and Homeland Security
Commander of the Police Division Loures
In 2006, Police in Public Segurtança (PSP) implemented the Integrated Program Policing Close (PIPP) a pioneer by systematization harmonious joint policing mechanisms of prevention and dimensions of closeness.
Given the absolute success and after validation by independent external entities, PSP then printed a generational development process to PIPP, evolving for Policing Model phase that still prevails under the name Integrated Model of Policing Close (MIPP).
The MIPP has so gather together projects that had formed so something archipelagic (is the Safe School Program, Secure trade, Safe taxi, Safe supply, Safe pharmacy, Support 65 - Safety in the Elderly, Victims of Domestic Violence, Meaningful Blue program, or more recently the University Segura), passing all of them to be integrated in an overall strategy and integral, coordinated mechanisms, unique and consistent evaluation and training. The MIPP continues to impart a greater focus in the proximity component and prevention of crime, though always in close and systematic coordination with the police valences of public policy, criminal and intelligence police officer, a logic of Integral Police such as the PSP. This way, it has been possible to harmonize organically and coherently all the valences of a modern Police, with a vision of the future but with the goal of always: serve the community, with excellence performances.
The police comprising the MIPP agents are called Proximity teams and form and Proximity Victim Support (Wreck) and the Safe School Program Teams (EPES). According to the respective security diagnosis, each EPAV ensures proximity policing in a sector of a Geographic Police PSP. This guarantee of continuity and even familiarity enables a better knowledge of the area and population by the EPAVs and PSP but also facilitates community contact habits with the police, thus creating bonds of trust that not only harmonize the intentions of the PSP to the true aspirations of the population, to enhance the maintenance of true feelings of security.
The Lisbon Metropolitan Command PSP (COMETLIS) was a pioneer in the implementation of MIPP only and is for example about 41% of the total workforce of the PSP exclusively dedicated to Proximity Policing, including the prevention and control of residential areas (particularly inhabited mostly by vulnerable citizens, like children, young and old) and commercial and tourist areas, highlighting the most vulnerable targets of possible terrorist actions, now also known as soft targets.
Given capabilities so multifaceted and comprehensive, PSP maximizes equally the commitment of EPAVs in preventing domestic violence, supporting victims of crime and their post-victimization monitoring, the identification of problems that might interfere with the security situation of citizens and the detection of so-called dark figure. Also for mere representation of the size of this model, all Divisions of the Police COMETLIS integrate exlusivamente police dedicated to MIPP, from Vila Franca de Xira to Cascais, from the downtown center of Lisbon at the Loures, Odivelas, Amadora and Sintra.
Turn and under the Safe School Program (PES), EPES are responsible for the security and surveillance in school areas and the prevention of juvenile delinquency. It is indeed on PSP, specifically in Odivelas Squad, which are the origins and the basic principles that would later be called the PES. The numerous actions of information and awareness that the police of Odivelas Police were already developing long been among the schools in your area, They were the subject of careful analysis and evaluation by the PSP and political tutelage, in order to consider the institutionalization of all this police activity especially directed to the school community. It would thus born the Safe School Program.
The COMETLIS and the Police Division Loures streamlined and coordinated all the work of the PSP and its program partners, among which are the school and educational community of Maynooth and the local authorities. Yet, It should also highlight the involvement of the entire civil society of Maynooth because today is constituted as a unique example of the full involvement of the whole community in a security program.
Dynamic and partnerships that then settled and still make history culminated in 1992 extending to the whole national territory of the Safe School Program, formally institutionalized through a protocol signed between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education, in order to improve the safety record of schools.
The COMETLIS and PSP have thus been pioneers in this area proximity policing, engaged in the EPES proactive role models, aimed at ensuring the safety of the school community, preventing and reducing risk behavior and incivilities, and improve the sense of security in the school and surroundings. With the participation of the whole community, It has guaranteed the safety increasingly schools and more
students in the area of ​​responsibility COMETLIS (cf.. Painting 1).
Agents Proximity thus have a mission covering the whole Policing Proximity to PSP, since the resolution and management of incidents / conflicts, strengthening police-citizen relationship and the detection of situations that may be social problems or which may result criminal practices.
The MIPP has also shown the ability to leverage and boost strategic partnership, particularly with Parish Councils and Municipal Councils (an example being the Local Security Contracts), courts, Protection Commissions of Children and Youth, schools, merchants, local technicians welfare but above all by the general public, because Safety begins in each of us.
Accountability of Proximity agents is another key element of the MIPP, including through the setting procedure protocols and the performance standards that facilitate and promote the identification of problems that affect public safety, road safety and people's own sense of security, from abandoned vehicles, Street lighting, graffities, vandalism, damaged or destroyed road signs, abandoned buildings but also the identification of children and elderly at risk.
The number of shares of Proximity agents has shown a steady upward trend, in particular COMETLIS (cfr Fig. 1), faithfully represent the strategic and operational intentions of the PSP, as a pioneer of a Security Force Policing model with MIPP features.
The innovative character of the MIPP is primarily based on perfect coordination established between the various police valences of PSP, priori as different but then so obviously complementary, such as the proximity policing, public order, criminal investigation and police intelligence.
However, the most notable success of the PSP MIPP is so complex and decisive as basic and fundamental, focusing on achieving power bringing together partnerships, wills, capabilities and repeatedly been disparate goals, bringing together police, public and private entities, governmental and non-governmental but also citizens, all together and holding hands in fighting crime and insecurity.
The Security begins in each of us.
