A Sociological Analysis of Community Policing and Social Mobilization

Abstract

This study examines the issues and success of community policing and social mobilization in underprivileged regions of Pakistan with
regard to the constraints and the possibilities of such projects. With a qualitative-based approach, the study will involve 15 in-depth
interviews, including 5 police officials and 5 community members, and 5 other key community members to make the perspective of the
community as diverse as possible. The study also uses two mini case studies which have been backed by the close observations of
police-community interactions and community meetings thus giving an overall picture of the dynamics involved. The results provide
insights that there is a high level of inhibition to effective community policing that includes irregularity in police presence, institutional and training barriers, and cultural expectations that inhibit participation especially among women and the marginalized groups. Although it requires proactive engagement, police interactions are usually reactive and crisis-based, which destroys trust and cooperation between the police and the community. The study reveals the need to have context-specific inclusive strategies that can improve the effectiveness of community policing. The research proposes that more proactive, fair and transparent policing may enhance community safety, trust and social cohesion through eradication of cultural, institutional and procedural barriers.