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The officers become experts in their community, developing close relationships with the citizens they are charged with protecting

In Japan’s major cities they have artfully integrated the physical presence of their police within local communities. Each Koban unit has anywhere from two to 20 officers and there are over 6,000 Koban across Japan’s major cities, each covering approximately 20 blocks. The officers become experts in their community, developing close relationships with the citizens they are charged with protecting. Part of the mandate of the Koban is to complete a regular census that enables them to understand the vulnerabilities within their community. The relationships developed between the police and the policed help establish trust, an essential ingredient in a successful police force.

The system works. According to information gathered by Numbeo, Tokyo’s crime index is 20.69 vs. 32.46 for Toronto, and Japan’s safety scale, at 79.31, is 11 points higher than Toronto’s.

Imagine living in a city where you know your police officer by name. Like your local barista, you would have daily contact with officers

The ability to implement a Koban style policing effort has never been easier. Mobile communication has changed the way we all live. Why not the way we police? Small trailers or booths located within Toronto’s neighbourhoods could be equipped with all the necessities of a modern police force at a fraction of the price it would have cost 10 years ago. Toronto would likely be able to reduce its policing budget and might even generate some cash for the city by selling its well located, valuable real estate.

Imagine living in a city where you know your police officer by name. Like your local barista, you would have daily contact with officers and on a human level, not through the glass of a cruiser driving through your neighbourhood. You would encounter officers not just when you need them but in the normal course of our daily lives.

The good news is while cities need to rethink how they police, they don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The Koban system has a long history of success and can easily be adopted here. Toronto has a new mayor and a new chief of police. It’s the perfect opportunity for a fresh look at a common sense approach to establishing a community-policing model that has a 100-plus year track record of success.

National Post

Susan J. McArthur is a managing partner at Greensoil Investments.