Terrorist activities, tactics and strategies are uncoordinated and asymmetrical. These conditions do not fit into traditional law enforcement models. Since 9/11 out of the 60 plots 43 where stopped by local law enforcement officers. The COIN warfare theory first championed by French Army Lieutenant Colonel David Galula has served as the foundation for the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps revision of the U.S. Counterinsurgency Manual. The theory’s basic premise is that the government can only succeed when the population at large rejects the rebels, their message and works with authorities. A counterinsurgency strategy for law enforcement would require the establishment of a persistent presence, psychological operations that enables the community to discern facts and rumors, and carefully select, train and supervise law enforcement personnel suited for complicated tasks. Counterinsurgency (COIN) theory can be used as a crime control model that incorporates police practice and operations of crime control and anti/counterterrorism.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Counterinsurgency (COIN) Theory
Community Oriented Policing (COP)
Definitions of Community Oriented Policing and Counterinsurgency
Community Oriented Policing Explained
Crime Prevention and Peace Preservation
Communications Policing
Community Building Policing
Counterinsurgency Explained
Domestic COIN v. Overseas COIN
Enemy-Centric v. Population-Centric COIN
Effectiveness of Community Oriented Policing Strategy
Effectiveness of Population-Centric Counterinsurgency Warfare
Nexus of Counterinsurgency and Community Oriented Policing
Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary objective of this work is to explore the viability of using Counterinsurgency (COIN) theory as a comprehensive model for law enforcement to address modern challenges, specifically terrorism, by integrating it with Community Oriented Policing (COP) strategies. The research questions focus on whether traditional police models are sufficient for asymmetrical threats and if adopting population-centric COIN methodologies can enhance domestic safety and police-community cooperation.
- Comparison of traditional law enforcement models versus counterinsurgency strategies.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of community-oriented policing in reducing crime and increasing public satisfaction.
- Analysis of the nexus between military counterinsurgency doctrine and domestic policing operations.
- Investigation of the interoperability of COIN and COP in addressing transnational criminal and terrorist threats.
Excerpt from the Book
Nexus of Counterinsurgency and Community Oriented Policing
In reviewing the compatibility of COP and COIN as a singular strategy current research by Evans (2005) in his research, Law Enforcement Intelligence: A Call for new Strategies and Tactics in Countering Criminal Insurgency, surmised a new crime control strategy he termed Law Enforcement as Counterinsurgency (LEC). The foundation for this new approach is having adequate intelligence collection and analysis capabilities. According to Evans (2005) adequate intelligence meets all needs of the administration or sets the standard. Further, he examines and frames insurgency and counterinsurgency from a law enforcement perspective. He holds that an insurgency (Criminal Insurgency) to include narcotics trafficking, illegal immigration and civil disorder is not easily defined. He noted the division among scholars and practitioners regarding the term where practitioners point to the letter of the law scholars point to academic definition surrounded in a sociopolitical context. Under this idea, insurgency, is an action or belief of a segment of the population that is different from accepted norms (Evans 2005).
Evans 2005 called for the re-examination of the idea of national security and homeland security. This is under the notion that viewing crime as an insurgency shows a direct correlation to a military concept (Galula 1965). Evans (2005) noted that there is a strict separation of police and military communities that one can’t learn or receive support from the other. Evans (2005) presented two concepts to support the viewing of crime as an insurgency. First, is the range of crimes since 9/11 has broadened. Through technology, faster mobility and endless financial markets criminals can blend their activities into legitimate enterprises (like organized crime) at one end. On the other this has given criminals or terrorists potential access to new markets and new methods of low intensity conflict such as narco-trafficking, ethno-religious extremism and weapons of mass destruction all of which would be encountered by law enforcement in its new homeland security role.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Examines the limitations of traditional law enforcement in the face of 21st-century terrorist threats and identifies the need for a more proactive, intelligence-driven approach.
Counterinsurgency (COIN) Theory: Defines the core concepts of COIN warfare, tracing its historical roots and military application, and sets the theoretical framework for its potential use in civilian police settings.
Community Oriented Policing (COP): Explores the evolution of COP and its focus on public cooperation, institutional theory, and the police as partners in community safety.
Definitions of Community Oriented Policing and Counterinsurgency: Outlines the foundational principles and goals of both disciplines, emphasizing the necessity of government legitimacy and public support.
Community Oriented Policing Explained: Details the three major variations of COP: Crime Prevention, Communications Policing, and Community Building.
Counterinsurgency Explained: Identifies the five primary functions of a COIN strategy—Political, Economic, Security, Information, and Control—necessary for success.
Domestic COIN v. Overseas COIN: Discusses the conceptual differences between military interventions abroad and the practical application of COIN tactics in a domestic setting.
Enemy-Centric v. Population-Centric COIN: Compares the two main COIN approaches, highlighting why focusing on the population is often more effective than an enemy-centric focus.
Effectiveness of Community Oriented Policing Strategy: Presents research regarding the positive impact of COP on citizen satisfaction, trust, and its measurable contribution to crime reduction.
Effectiveness of Population-Centric Counterinsurgency Warfare: Analyzes historical data from 20th-century conflicts to show how population-centric strategies significantly improve the likelihood of operational success.
Nexus of Counterinsurgency and Community Oriented Policing: Explores the conceptual overlap between military COIN and civilian policing, proposing a new strategy called Law Enforcement as Counterinsurgency (LEC).
Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, suggesting that while local agencies are often small, the integration of COIN-derived intelligence and community-building methods can help address domestic terrorism and traditional crime.
Keywords
Community Oriented Policing, Counterinsurgency, COIN, Terrorism, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Crime Control, Population-Centric, Intelligence, Policing Strategy, Homeland Security, Insurgency, Crime Prevention, Community Building, Asymmetrical Threats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines whether military Counterinsurgency (COIN) theory, specifically its population-centric approach, can be adapted as a viable model for local law enforcement to address modern challenges like terrorism and organized crime.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include the integration of intelligence-driven tactics, the importance of maintaining public trust, the interoperability of police and military concepts, and the shift from traditional crime models to those capable of handling asymmetrical threats.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to determine if incorporating aspects of population-centric COIN into existing community policing strategies can help law enforcement better manage both traditional criminal activities and modern terrorist threats.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The work utilizes a literature-based review and secondary analysis of existing studies, including military doctrine, law enforcement reports, and academic research on the effectiveness of both COP and COIN strategies.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The body covers the historical development of COIN theory, the pillars of Community Oriented Policing, a comparative analysis of domestic versus overseas COIN applications, and case studies regarding the interoperability of these two paradigms.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Community Oriented Policing, Counterinsurgency (COIN), Law Enforcement, Insurgency, Population-Centric, and Homeland Security.
How does the author define the "LEC" strategy?
The author highlights the concept of "Law Enforcement as Counterinsurgency" (LEC) as a model that prioritizes advanced intelligence collection, analysis, and a deep understanding of the community to combat criminal insurgencies that are transnational in nature.
Why is a population-centric approach preferred over an enemy-centric one?
The research suggests that a population-centric approach focuses on gaining the support and trust of the community, which is essential for identifying threats and successfully marginalizing insurgents, whereas an enemy-centric approach is often less effective in both military and civilian contexts.
What is the conclusion regarding small police agencies?
The author acknowledges that since most U.S. police agencies are small, adopting large-scale counterterrorism methods in their entirety is unrealistic, but suggests that specific principles of COIN can be scaled to assist in local operations.
What role does technology play in this proposed strategy?
Technology is identified as essential for data modeling and information sharing, with systems like Chicago's CLEAR or California's CAL/GANG serving as examples of how police can mirror military-grade intelligence and link analysis to manage threats effectively.
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- Marvin Hughes (Autor:in), 2018, Counterinsurgency and Policing, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/423685
