Law enforcement challenges caused by extreme weather                                                                            

                                                                                                                                Role of the Community Police

Abstract

Representatives of the early Hungarian law enforcement science have mentioned repeatedly the role of police in restraining of threats caused by natural forces. They clearly point out that these forces are incontrollable and their rampage can be a serious danger to the statal and social estate even making the work of administrative bodies unserviceable. This is the main point why ´police administration´ has to be properly prepared in this area as well. Discussions and scientific researches on the social role of police have revealed significant conclusions showing the existence of the permanently changing expectations relating the organisation. The operating models of police and philosophies establishing them are undergoing significant changes permanently. Community police formed at the end of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century can play an important role in reduction and elimination of harmful effects of extreme weather conditions caused by global warming. Of course not as an independent force but in co-operation with the other forces of the community. With obtaining the community´s trust the community policeman can become a member of local communities with equal rights and can be the key figure in solving the emerging problems. But the efforts of local forces and their staff alone are not sufficient. The ´social gates´ establishing the operation of community police also must come into existence. These gates are ´culture of safety´, ´nearby police´ and ´liveable city´. In all three cases legitimacy, community cooperation and trust are the key points to create required social environment. Global warming is a worldwide problem, its effects can be estimated but are definitely impossible to identify exactly.  A lot of changing and interactive factors have to be taken into consideration during the calculations. There is no precise recipe for handling the emerging problems. Therefore it is necessary to set the accepting media considering police forces as their organic parts. Since police forces count themselves as servants of the community - due to the strength of this duality – they are able to get ready for the anticipated difficulties! Obtaining social trust capital is a key task in this slow building process. Therefore actions must be client-centric with efficient information-flow and problem-solving striving for consensus. Community police can fulfill its role appropriately such way.

Keywords: order of nature, police science, social capital, cooperation, community policing