The District Policing which changed a police substation to a police patrol division system in 2003 represented the reform for 'Citizen-Oriented Policing'. But, recently street-level police agencies try to alter which is part for increasing citizen satisfaction. Therefore, we need to grasp which factors affect citizen satisfaction.
This study conducted a citizen satisfaction survey on classification according to regional characteristics which was one of the factors for organiting the street-level police agencies with a focus on the police box system and Patrol division.
Specifically, the study aimed to understand how types and policing of street-level police agencies by regional characteristics affect citizen satisfaction.
To do this, the range of the study was set up as follows;
The regional characteristics was limited to Seoul and they were classified into the category of Seoul's Use Zoning like resident, business, industry and green. Types of street-level police agencies were restricted to the police box system and patrol division. That's why they operate policing based on region and most closely contact of citizens. The satisfaction survey was conducted targeting men and women aged of 20 and over in Seoul.
The results are as follows;
First, types of street-level police agencies by the regional characteristics affect citizen satisfaction. High satisfaction from accessibility to the police box system was shown in all districts except for green In the case of visibility, police patrol division has high level in residential district. It is because, like accessibility, the residential district that has low satisfaction can not find street-level police agencies and there is relatively lower manpower in terms of size. Responsiveness is little different between police substation and police patrol division. Unlike negative results from current research that moving is delayed in wider sphere of jurisdiction, we can easily figure out that 112 instant dispatch system is used quickly. In particular, according to interview, citizens who have experiences of reporting 112 expressed some satisfaction to some degree regardless of region.
Second, policing of street-level police agencies by regional characteristics affects citizen satisfaction. Satisfaction from accessibility indicates low level in the industrial district. We found that citizens demand more policing and have higher policing sentiment because the district has large floating population and heavy traffic. In the case of visibility, satisfaction records high in the residential district where policing is lower. We can explain that policing affects improvement of local environment and location of front-line police agencies. Satisfaction from prompt action show generally low level because of moving delay due to traffic congestion and high policing sentiment according to mass migrant workers.
There could be several proposals according to the results;
Firstly, Patrol system by district should be set up considering regional characteristics. Above mentioned, the reasons of low satisfaction are location of the agencies and traffic. Therefore, according to conditions of traffic and location, two and three police patrol divisions and police substations need to be opened in each jurisdiction for quick backing.
Secondly, patrol system should be improved. Recently, prompt action for report to 112 indicates generally high satisfaction. But flexible patrol dispatch system should be established in order to upgrade satisfaction from accessibility. There are alternatives like intensive patrol and foot patrol in view of hot-spot and time.
Thirdly, working conditions for police officers should be reformed. Besides key factors, contact with police officers is positive for the satisfaction so flexible working considering local conditions should be utilized and minimum working hours should be ensured.
What is important in the study is that citizen satisfaction was conducted through the classification according to regional characteristics which have not been applied to the system. Various factors in the study increase persuasion and complements current researches.
Nevertheless, the classification focuses on geography and it can not consider general factors of local society. While it complements quantitative research with interviews, the results still limit generalization. If follow-up researches suggest systematic standards for regional characteristics which have heavy relativity, we could expect even better political proposals.