Topic 3:

The Law Enforcement Pillar

Teaching-Learning Activity/Lesson Proper

LAW ENFORCEMENT

It is considered as the prime mover of the Criminal Justice System. Law enforcement is a
deterrent and preventive activity.

It consists of patrolling to supervise conduct, investigating to identify offenders and/or recover

stolen or missing property, warning or arresting those who are probably guilty of criminal behavior,
and assisting in the prosecution and trial of offenders. Its goals are aimed towards the prevention and
disorder, preservation of peace, and the protection of life, properties and individual freedom.

The Police (Law Enforcement) stand at the forefront of the Criminal Justice System. Law
Enforcement is a deterrent and preventive activity. It consists of patrolling to supervise conduct,
investigating to identify offenders and or recover stolen or missing property, warning or arresting
those who are probably guilty of criminal behavior, and assisting in the prosecution and trial of
offenders. Its goals are aimed towards the prevention of crime and disorder, preservation of peace, and
the protection of life, properties and individual freedom.
A large number of government agencies are involved in law enforcement one way or another.
The kind and degree of involvement vary from general and specific law enforcement to enforcing
standards and regulation pertaining to particular government activities.
In the Philippines, the law enforcement function is spearheaded by the
Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) under the Department of Justice (DOJ).
 In addition to these government offices, there are other agencies tasked with enforcing special laws.
Among these are:
1. Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response Team – (PACER)
2. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
3. Land Transportation Office (LTO)
4. Bureau of Customs (BOC)
5. Bureau of Immigration (BOI)
6. Economic and Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (EIIB)
7. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
8. Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
9. Marine Industry Authority (MARINA)
10. Bureau of Forest Development
11. Department of Agriculture (DA) - BFAR, BPI, etc.
12. Air Transportation Office (ATO)
13. National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
14. Bureau of Product Standards (BPS)

HISTORY OF POLICE FORCES

Introduction

Police is the agency of a community or government that is responsible for maintaining public
order and preventing and detecting crime. The basic police mission — preserving order by enforcing
rules of conduct or laws — was the same in ancient societies as it is today in sophisticated urban
communities.

The term police originated from the Greek word “politeia”, which means government of a city.
The term was used to describe the group of civil officers governing the city and not necessarily the
armed men guarding/policing the city. When the Romans conquered the Greeks, they changed the word
slightly to “politia”.

The French changed the word to “police” and used it to those authorized people who actually
enforce the law. The English and the Americans borrowed the word from the French and used it to
describe a law enforcement officer.

Cop and constable are terms with similar meaning to the word police. The word cop is
commonly used to describe a police officer. This word most likely came from the European word cop,
meaning to catch or seize.

Broad Goals of the PNP

1. Prevent and control crimes.

2. Maintain peace and order.
3. Ensure public safety and security.

Sub Goals of the PNP

1. Reduce the level of criminality and crime rate into a desirable social level.
 2. Improve crime solution efficiency.
3. Maximize linkages with other components of CJS and international law enforcement agencies.
4. Enhances the credibility of law enforcement organizations.

Statutory Power of Police

1. Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives and properties.
2. Maintain peace and order and to take all necessary steps to ensure public safety.
3. Exercise the general powers to make arrest, search, and seizures in accordance with the
constitution and pertinent laws.
4. Investigate and prevent crimes, effect the arrest of criminals, bring offenders to justice and
assist in their prosecution
5. To assist other national government agencies, instrumentalities and subsidiaries in the
enforcement of laws pertinent thereto upon proper request and or deputization.
6. Detain an arrested person for a period not beyond what is prescribed by law.

Administrative Functions of the Police

1. To ensure licenses to possess a firearm and explosive, as well as permit to carry firearm outside
residence.
2. Supervise and control the licensing, training and duties of security guards and security
agencies.
3. Perform other task maybe provided for by law.

Police Operations

1. Prevention of crime.
2. Repression of criminality.
3. Apprehension of Criminals.
4. Recovery of stolen property or protection of life and property.
5. Regulation of non-criminal conduct.
6. Perform other miscellaneous services.

ROLE OF THE POLICE IN THE SYSTEM

1. To arrest the suspect
a. By virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by a judge on the basis of evidence submitted by
them.
b. Under circumstances justifying a warrantless arrest (Sec. 5, Rule 113, Rules of Court).
2. To conduct investigation - The police may conduct surveillance, interview persons with
knowledge of facts directly or indirectly connected with the offense, take photographs
(surreptitiously or otherwise), arrange to
 constitutional and statutory safeguards, examine public and other available records pertaining
to the persons involved and get copies of pertinent entries.
3. To gather and preserve evidence
4. To transmit the records of the case to the court/prosecutor
5. To appear and testify in court

Theories of Police Service

1. Home Rule - Policemen are considered as servants of the community.

2. Continental - Policemen are considered as servants of higher authority.

Concept of Police Service

1. Old Concept
The yardstick of police efficiency is the number of arrest. Police is a repressive machinery
in crime prevention.

2. Modern Concept
The yardstick of police efficiency is the absence of crime crime/lesser number of crimes
committed.

Police Community Relation

It is the sum total of dealing of the police with the people it serves and whose goodwill and
cooperation it craves to ensure the greatest efficiency in the police service.

Coverage of Police Community Relation A.

Public Information Program

This evolves upon the concept of keeping members of society informed so that they will appreciate
and understand the complexity of police work and the services rendered by our men.

B. Public Relation Program

Focused on building a good image for the police organization through actual performance without
inefficiency and corruption.

C. Civic Action Program

This impart to the people that police are their friends and the partners as well as their defenders.

D. Mass Communication Program

 It is designed to influence the opinions, attitudes, behaviors and emotions of the public in a manner that
they will behave in accordance with the law.

Police Discretion

It is the wise use of one’s judgment, personal experience and common sense to decide a
particular situation.
Abuse of discretion resulting to injury to persons or damage to property is punishable. So
the police must be guided by some basic concepts such as COMMON SENSE,
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, and SOUND JUDGMENT.

PROBLEMS ARISING FROM UNREGULATED DISCRETION

1. It lacks uniformity for implementation
2. It may be discriminatory
3. It foster police corruption in victimless crimes
4. It converts the law into a personal instrument of social control through the socalled "sidewalk
justice."