Understanding the Implementation of Community-Oriented Policing in the New Zealand Police

The New Zealand Police adopted Community-Oriented Policing in the late 1980s as a response to an increase in crime and from pressure from the government to improve the effectiveness of their services. The introduction of the philosophy led to the establishment of Community Policing Centers and the introduction of Neighborhood Policing Teams. Community-Oriented Policing was never fully implemented even though it was the philosophy that was used for a radical change program called Prevention First. Prevention First was implemented by the New Zealand Police between 2009 and 2012. It was a strategy that had all of the characteristics of Community-Oriented Policing and had a focus on victims and the prevention of crime.