TRENDS IN MODERN
POLICING SYSTEMS
PIERRE AEPLI
SENIOR CONSULTANT DCAF
FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE OF VAUD
AND
CHAIRMAN OF THE CHIEFS OF POLICE OF SWITZERLAND
PURPOSES
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To describe changes in the environment
To analyse their consequences for the
security sector
To identify the challenges for policing
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Remarks
Expose of a general nature
Based on the situation in Europe
But the trends described are to be found in
each country
THESIS
 Security
is the product of a
system
 This system is challenged today
by the changes in the
environment
 The system has to find a new
equilibrium
 All police have entered a
difficult process of change
CHALLENGES FOR POLICE
AUTHORITIES
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To realize that change is
unavoidable
To overcome lack of resources
To convince collaborators
To develop an adequate strategy for
change
To implement it with sufficient
flexibility
THE SYSTEMIC APPROACH
THE SECURITY SYSTEM
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
Diplomaty
Army
Police
Private
security
INPUTS
Border
guards
OUTPUTS
NEEDS,
EXPECTATIONS,
RISKS
FEEDBACK
ACTIONS,
PRESTATIONS
ENVIR0NNEMENT
INPUTS
INTELLIGENCE
THRUPUTS
DECISION
RESSOURCES
CONTROL
COMMUNICATION
OUTPUTS
THE ENVIRONMENT
TWO OPPOSITE MOVMENTS
GLOBALISATION
1989, 1991,
2001
1968
FRAGMENTATION
CONSEQUENCES AT THREE
LEVELS
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A new international order with new
threats
More fragmented societies with new
tensions
More desoriented and frustrated
individuals
EVOLUTION OF THREATS
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Classical military threats decrease
Increase of the risks caused by
criminality and terrorism
From the threats on the State to
those on the civil society
TODAY’S CRIMINALITY
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Development of the organized crime
Increase of violence and urban
violence
Juvenile crime
International gangs
Terrorism
Violent demonstrations
CONSEQUENCES FOR SECURITY
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Limits between external and inside
security are blurring
Actors of the system must enter
reform processes
New interactions and relations
between them
Thus roles, missions of actors as
well as their interactions and the
distribution of resources inside the
system must be reviewed
CONSEQUENCES FOR
POLICE
CHALLENGES FOR POLICE
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To address simultanely 3 types of
criminality
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International : organized crime, terrorism
National-regional: mobile crime
Local : street violence
To answer new threats and expectations
from population as well as from
collaborators
To police a society becoming multicultural
To manage more efficiently because of
diminishing resources
To conduct the process of change
WEAKNESSES
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Heavy, paramilitary structures
More reactive than proactive
Tackling cases and not problems
Limited cooperation with the outside
Intelligence concept
Controls of processes and not of
results
Styles of mgmt
TOWARDS A NEW MODEL OF POLICING
Paramilitary structures
Flattening of the structures
Demilitarization
Division of work
Processes
Task forces
Law enforcement
Problems management
Information and decision
centralization
Decentralization of decision
Intelligence system
Reaction
Prevention
To manage current business
To conduct the process of
change
SIX FUTURE TRENDS
3 DIMENSIONS, 3 AREAS, 3 LEVELS
Structures
System
Collaborations
Interactions
Actors
Doctrines
Local
Regional
Supra regional
1. THE CUSTOMERS TREND
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Outside customers
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Focus on service delivered
Multicultarility being taken into account
Communication
Collaborators
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New expectations
Selection,career paths, training
Communication
Situational leadership
2. FOCUS ON KEY ACTIVITIES
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Activities
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Police bound only
Which can be accomplished by others
Examples
 Forensic
 Computer specialists
 Garage
Competences
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Identification of key competences for today
and tomorrow
Acquisition and training of these competences
3. COOPERATION
WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION
WITH THE
POLITICAL, JUDICIAL,
ADMINISTRATIVE
AUTHORITIES
WITH THE
POPULATION
WITH OTHER AGENCIES OF
THE SECURITY SYSTEM
NATIONALY OR INTERNATIONALY
4. NEW ORGNIZATION FORMS
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Decentralization versus centralization
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Solutions have to be coherent with
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System of authority and competences
Control system
Relations with authorities
The political structure
The strategy
All elements have to be coherent
Examples: France, Belgium, Switzerland,
BiH
A NEW SWISS
STRUCTURE
5. OPERATIONAL DOCTRINES
Community policing
Police de proximite
PREVENTION
Intelligence led
policing
Zero tolerance
SWAT teams
REPRESSION
A police must be organized to be able to conduct different operational
policies at the same time to combat different types of criminality
Coherence between elements must be reached, example of community
policing where structures, delegation of power, training and communication
must be adequate with this strategy
6. MANAGEMENT
Lack of resources
New collaborators
Conduct of change
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More efficiency
More flexibility
Better formation
Key factors
 Situational leadership
 Mgmt of change
Training (importance of middle managers)
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS IN FORMER
COMMUNIST COUNTRIES
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To achieve
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To overcome obstacles due to:
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Depolitisation
Demilitarisation
Decentralisation
Professionalisation
Previous culture
Managment gaps
Lack of resources
To master international help
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Poor coordination on the international side
Lack of strategy on the receiver’s side
INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION ON THE
EXAMPLE OF THE G8
THE EVENT
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8 G8 countries + other participants
Conference in Evian, France
Arrival at Geneva airport and
several delegations put up in
Lausanne
Demonstrations in Lausanne and
Geneva and not in France
Main difficulties in Switzerland, all
profits in France
GENERAL SITUATION
EVIAN
LAUSANNE
GENEVA
AIG
PROBLEMS TO BE TACKLED
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Intelligence concept
Chain of command
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Resources
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Centralized and organic in France
Ad hoc in Switzerland with differences in equipment,
training and methods
Legislation
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Clear in France: préfet
Very complicated in Switzerland: three levels, different
cantons, police, army
To establish between both countries
Treaties with France and Germany were different
Communication
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Immense pressure in Switzerland from the beginning
Constant problem of managing media
SOLUTIONS
PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS
Command
CODIR, coordination body for the
planification
Intercantonal staff for operational
preparation
Cantons’ police for operations
Army
Intelligence
Intelligence units from the army, the
different police, the federal police
Resources
IKAPOL
German help
Legislation
Specific agreement between France and
Switzerland: costs, cooperation between
air forces
Communication
Rules, press centers, CODIR’s chairman
LESSONS LEARNED (some)
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One political body, one chief of
operation, one budget
Importance of the assessment of
situation
If / then planning and reserve
Intelligence: basis for decisionmaking
Media mgmt is the key
CONCLUSIONS
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Changes in the environment lead to
changes in the security system
It is necessary to answer following
questions:
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What is the business of security
Where do we want to go
How
Thus: how to manage the process
of change