When UK officers are out patroling,(in their cars),how do they decide where to go?

Ian UK

We can patrol anywhere we like when we are not called to specific jobs.

We do however have areas that we are asked to patrol due to recent criminal activity with a view to trying to prevent any further incidents with our presence. I personally, as do many officers, patrol areas where known criminals live in order to let them know that we are out and about, again in order to prevent crime. I also drive by the addresses of victims of crime to make sure they aren't being targeted.

Contrary to what most people think, the Police do have a role in preventing crime. We do drive around during all hours of the day and night, in all weather, when those who criticise us are safely tucked up in bed. We even try to prevent criminals from attacking their property despite what they say about us.

I personally have no problem issuing tickets to those breaking road traffic laws but I do it for the safety aspect and couldn't care less about the 'revenue' I'm generating.

Randy B

Its random, as long as it is in their patrol area.

italian-tony

Mostly they have assignments given to them when they come on duty. They are normally so busy they don't have a lot of time to just 'drive around'. They will of course be directed to any 'incidents' during their shift. If they do have 'spare time' they would normally visit areas where crime is known to be prevalent. Of course there are some lazy ones, as there are in life genrally but believe me, their colleagues and superiors know who they are and they get sorted.

ed209

Most officers have some form of briefing when they report for duty. This will typically contain a list of areas suffering from certain crimes or antisocial behaviour. A mobile unit or the shift as a whole will then be tasked with paying as much attention to that area throughout the shift as possible.
In addition to this officers typically have good local knowledge. They know where crime is likely to be occurring and where that areas criminal live. Officers also often have their own 'unofficial' patch which may have historically turned up some good arrests in the past and so they will spend more time in that area.

carswoody

In my unit it is rare to actually have time to do a normal patrol of my allocated area. There are not enough of us to do it. We are sent to a job, and as soon as comms know we have finished we are sent to another.
I work in a Response unit.
Normal patrols are carried out by NPT units (neighbourhood policing teams). However they do not work 24 hrs, so during the night there are no patrols. This is only my area, and I cannot say the same goes for every force.

Hugo S

Essentially policemen on the beat or in a vehicle may be asked to patrol a certain area or they may visit, or respond to a crime scene.

Calls on their times will take priority depending on what it is. Life in danger, actual crime taking place or need for assistance or crowd control will take priority over calling in on shops where shoplifters have aready been apprehended or where a crime has taken place and the person responsible has got away.

If it is a quiet period then they will no doubt be briefed on which areas could most benefit from their presence. However most of the time it is down to the officers themselves to decide where to go on the basis of where their presence could be of most benefit.

Bamford1000

There are neighbourhood policing teams who are responsible for a particular area.

http://www.neighbourhoodpolicing.co.uk/

Police Forces are also broken down in to Basic Command Units (BCU's), Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU) in the Metropolitan Police or Divisions in some forces. They are then further sub-divided in to sub-divisions or area commands, so each officer will work in a particular locality under the management structure in that area. There is also a distinction between local borough CID and central (HQ) CID Units.

Support is provided by central units such as the Territorial Support Group, Area Cars and other central command units including specialist CID Units such as Major Investigation Teams .

Apollo

They will have their pland routes, but are always in contact with control, in case of calls.

gary

they have a rough idea of where they are going, but can so easily get destracted, and can often be found in Halfords or Sainsburys shopping....

robert c

The canteen manageress tells them!

Linda R

Simple they tell each other where the trouble is and then go in the opposite direction.! Unless of course its dealing with a load of kids playing football in the stret or something like that then they play at being policemen. They are never there when you need them, they deal with history.

maca

if they know of any trouble then they go in opposite direction

loopy

so just drive round just to see who is about so they can pick on them

joan k

I think that the control room tells them where an incident has occured, but they do have an area to patrol, unless of course they are going to Tescos

ascoile

Wherever the CCTV camera operators direct them, or wherever they can find speding motorists to boost the revenue.

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