Title: Effectiveness of Police Bike Patrol in Crime Prevention within the AOR of Police

Station - 5 at Ermita, Manila.

Background of the Study:

The history of police patrol can be traced back to the 1750s in which Henry Fielding

proposed that constables be organized to foot patrol the streets rather than stay at their

watch boxes. His view was that the constables would be a preventive towards crime in

the streets of London in contrast to the standardized concept of apprehension and

punishment (Larson and Cahn, 1985).

The activities of police patrol have historically accounted for the major portion of all

police work. “The most visible activity of the police, that for which they conceived and by

which they are best known, is preventive patrol” (Manning, 1986).

The basic concept of police patrol is the deployment of police officers into the community

via a roaming resource patrol unit. The resources consist of the bike, motorcycle,

mounted horseback, helicopter, and airplane. This may also be accomplished by foot

patrol (walking a beat) or stationary surveillance post. The general goals of a PD’s patrol

consists of deterrence of crime, apprehension of criminal offenders, the maintenance of

public security and the suppression of criminal activity (Schell, 1976).

Their objectives are to patrol and cover a specific region with the focus of preventing,

identifying, investigating and arresting offenders. The officers achieve their mission of

patrol by maintaining continuous movement and surveillance of a region or

neighborhood without an explicit or organized plan. They basically sustain or carry on

their movements in a randomized manner. The personnel of a police department who

accomplish the task of patrol are broken down into three specialized patrol tactical units.
These units consist of uniformed officers, civilian clothed officers and mechanical

devices (Webb, 1977).

In 1636 the city of Boston established a night watch; the idea worked reasonably well as

long as the area remained a rural one. New York City established the shout and rattle

watch in 1651 which consisted of checking doors and alerting the public if a problem was

found. In 1705, Philadelphia found it necessary to divide the city into 10 patrol areas. All

of these measures were early practices of colonies to provide some kind of order in their

communities.

According to P/Colonel Redrico Maranan, PPPO director, the bicycle patrol cops will be

visible to improve crime prevention in tourist spots where cars and motorcycles are not

allowed, like Baywalk and in preparation for the summer break. Twenty police officers

(20) led by led by P/Major Arnold Soriano were issued twenty bicycles with helmets and

vests donated by the Public Safety Savings Loan Association (PSSLAI), began their

patrol duties after launching the bicycle patrol cops aprogram at the Baywalk at the

Capitol Beach Front in Lingayen town.

The Manila Police District (MPD) started training the 80 policemen for its Bike Patrol Unit

formed to strengthen crime prevention measures. According to Police Col. Rex Arvin

Malimban, MPD-District Mobile Force Battalion commander, the bike patrollers will be

helpful in pursuing suspects in congested areas such as alleys. Bike patrolling will allow

better interaction between civilians and law enforcer compared with cars and

motorcycles. The police’s bike patrol exercises include obstacle courses, shooting

techniques, first aid and human-rights policies.

Statement of the Problem:

1. How do the effectiveness of Police Patrol contributes to the Crime Prevention

within the AOR of Police Station – 5 at Ermita, Manila?

1.1 Bike Patrol

1.2 Automobile Patrol

2. What are the crimes that lessen the effectiveness and give community the

uncertainty in Police Patrol?

2.1 Theft

2.2 Physical Injury

2.3 Rape

3. What are the methods that the police use to perceive the safeness in the

community?

3.1 Building Community Relations

3.2 Providing Security and Protection in the Community.