Police Operational Planning

Planning is an integral element of good management and good decision- making.

What is a Plan?

A plan is an organize schedule by methodological activities intended to attain goal and objectives for the
accomplishment of missions or assignment. It is a method or way of doing something in order to attain
objectives.

What is Planning?

Planning is the management function concerned with visualizing future situation making estimates
concerning them identifying issues needs and potential danger points analyzing and evaluating the alternative
ways and means for reaching desired goals according to a certain schedule estimating the necessary funds and
resources to do the work and initiating action in time to prepare what maybe needed to cope with the changing
conditions and contingent ever.

What is Police Planning?

Police planning is an attempt by police administrators in trying to allocate anticipated service demands.
It is the systematic and orderly determination of facts and events as basis for policy formulation and decision
affecting law enforcement management.

What is Operational planning?

Operational planning is the use of rational design or pattern for all departmental undertakings rather
than delaying on chance in an operational environment. It is the preparation and development of procedures
and techniques in accomplishing of each of the primary task and functions of an organization.

What is Police Operational Planning?

Police operational planning is the act of determining policies and guidelines for police activities and
operations and providing control and safeguards for such activities operations in the department. It may also
be the process of formulating coordinated sequence of methodical activities and allocation resources to the line
unit s of the police organization for the attainment of the mandated objective or goals.

❖ Objectives- are specific commitment to achieve a measurable result within specific period of time.
❖ Goals- are general statement of intention and typically with time horizon or it is achievable and state
that can be measured and observe.

The process of police operational planning involves:

❖ Strategy- is abroad design or method; or a plan to attain a stated goal or objectives.

❖ Tactics- are specific design, method or course of action to attain a particular objective in consonance
with strategy.
❖ Procedure- are sequences of activities to reach a point or to attain what is desired.
❖ Policy – is a product of prudence or wisdom in the management of human affairs or policy is a course
of action which could be a program of action adopted by an individual , group organization or government or
the set of principles on which they are based .
❖ Guidelines- are rules of action for the rank and file to show them how they are expected to obtain the
desired effect.

Strategic planning is a series of preliminary decisions on a framework which in turn guides subsequent
decisions that generate the nature and direction of an organization. This is usually along range in nature.

Strategic Planning Service

Task 1- Develop mission and Objectives

Task 2- Diagnose environmental Threats and opportunities
Task 3- Asses Organizational Threats and Opportunities
Task 4- Generate Alternative Strategies
Task 5- Develop Strategic Plan
Task 6- Develop Tactical Plan
Task 7- Asses results of Strategic and Tactical plan
Task 8- Repeat Planning process

Fundamentals of Police Planning

Objectives of Police Planning

1. To increase the chances of success by focusing on results and not so much on the objectives.
2. To force analytical thinking and evaluation of alternatives for better decision. THINK TANK
3. To establish framework for decision making consistent with the goal of the organization.
4. To orient people to action instead of reaction.
5. To modify the day- to –day style of operation to future management.
6. To provide decision making with flexibility.
7. To provide basis for measuring original accomplishment or individual performance.
8. To increase employee and personnel involvement and to improve communication.

Characteristic of a good Police Plan

1. With clearly defined objectives or goals

2. Simplicity, Directness and Clarity.
3. Flexibility
4. Possibility of attainment
5. Must provide Standards of Operation
6. Economy in terms of resources needed for implementation
Guidelines in Planning; the 5 W’s and 1 H
1. What to do- mission/ objective
2. What to do – reason/ philosophy
3. When to do – date /time
4. Where to do – place
5. How to do- strategy

Responsibilities in Planning

1. Broad External Policy Planning- is the responsibility of the legislative branch of the government. The
main concern of the police in this broad external policy planning is assisting the legislature in their determining
of police guideline through the passage of appropriate law or ordinances for the police to enforce.

2. Internal Police Planning- is the responsibility of the C/ PNP and other Chiefs of the different units or
headquarters within their area of jurisdiction to achieve the objectives or mission of the police organization.

Approaches in Police Planning

1. Synoptic planning- or the rational comprehensive approach is the dominant tradition in planning. It is
also the point of departure for most other planning approaches.

This model is based on a problem – oriented approach to planning especially appropriate for police agencies.
It relies heavily on the problem identification and analysis of the planning process. It can assist police
administrators in formulating goals and priorities in terms that are focused on specific problems and solutions
that often confront law enforcement.

Steps in Synoptic Planning

✔ Prepare for planning

✔ Describe the present situation
✔ Develop projections and consider alternative future states
✔ Identify and analyze problem
✔ Set goals
✔ Identify alternatives course of action

Select preferred activities there are three techniques to select alternative

1. Strategic analysis- this includes the study on the courses of action ;suitability studies; feasibility
studies; acceptability studies and judgement.

❖ Suitability- each courses of action is evaluated in accordance with general policies rules and laws.
 ❖ Feasibility – these include the appraisal of the effects of a number of a factors weighed separately and
together.
❖ Acceptability- those judge to be suitable and feasible are then analyzed in acceptability studies.

2. Cost- Effective Analysis- this technique is sometimes called cost- benefit or cost performance
analysis. The purpose of this form of selection is that the alternative chosen should maximize the ratio benefit
to cost.

3. Must – Want Analysis- This method of selecting a preferred course of action combines the strength of both
strategic and cost effectiveness analysis . Must want analysis is concerned with both the subjected weights of
suitability , feasibility , and acceptability and the objectives weights of cost versus benefits.

✔ Plan and Carryout implementation

✔ Monitor and evaluate progress
✔ Summation of the synoptic planning approach
✔ Repeat the planning process

2. Incremental Planning - incremental concludes that long range and comprehensive planning are not only
too difficult, but inherently bad. The problems are seen as too difficult when they are grouped together and
easier to solve when they are take none at a time and broken down into gradual adjustments over time.

3. Transactive Planning- is carries out in face- to – face interaction with the people who are to be affected by
the plan and not to an anonymous target community of beneficiaries Techniques include field surveys and
interpersonal dialogue marked by a process of mutual learning.

4. Advocacy Planning- beneficial aspects of this approach include greater sensitivity to the unintended and
negative side effects of plans.

5. Radical Planning- the first mainstream involves collective actions to achieve concrete results in the
immediate future. The second mainstream is critical of large –scale social processes and how they permit the
character of social and economic life at all events, which, in turn, determine the structure and evolution of
social problems.

Consideration in Police Planning

1. Primary Doctrines
❖ Fundamental Doctrines- these are the basis principles in planning, organization and management of the PNP
in support of the overall pursuits of the PNP vision, mission and strategic action plan of the attainment of the
national objectives.
❖ Operational Doctrine- these are the principles and rules governing the planning organization and direction
and employment of the PNP forces in the accomplishment of basic security operational mission in the
maintenance of peace and order , crime prevention and suppression internal security and public safety
operation.
❖ Functional Doctrine- these provide guidance for specialized activities of the PNP on the broad field of interest
such as personnel , intelligence, operations, logistics ,planning etc.

2. Secondary Doctrines

❖ Complimentary Doctrine- formulated jointly by two or more bureaus in order to effect a certain operation with
regard to public safety and peace and order.

❖ Ethical Doctrine- these define the fundamental principles governing the rules of conduct, attitude behaviour
and ethical norm of the PNP.

3. The Principles of Police Organization- these principles are considered in police planning in order not to violate
them but rather for the effective and efficient development of police plans.

4. The Four Primal conditions of the Police Organization

❖ Authority- the right to exercise, to decide, and to command by virtue of rank and position.
❖ Doctrine- it provides for the organization objectives. It provides the various actions. Hence, policies , procedures
, rules and regulations of the organization are based on the statement of doctrines.
❖ Cooperation or Coordination
❖ Discipline- it is composed by command or self- restraint to insure supportive behaviour.

Classification of Police Plan

Police maybe classified in a number of ways. To facilitate orderly discussion, they are arbitrarily, divided in to
five classifications. Research is, of course essential in all planning.

1. Procedural Plan- include every procedure that has been outlined and officially adopted as the standard method
of action to be followed by all members of the police organization under specified circumstances, regardless of
where or when the circumstances arise and regardless of the functional unit to which the member confronted
by them may be current assigned . This plan constitutes the standard operating procedures of the
organization.
2. Tactical Plans- are restricted to methods of action to be taken at a designed location and under specified
circumstances. Tactical plans represent the application of procedures to a specific situation.
3. Operational Plans- include the work programs of line division. The work to be done to accomplish the process
of patrol, crime investigation , traffic, vice and juvenile – crime control must be analyzed from the point of view
of the nature, time , and place of the component task, and measured in terms of manpower and equipment
requirements.
4. Extra –departmental Plans- include those that require action or assistance from persons or agencies outside
the police organization , or that related to some form of community organization.
5. Management Plans- relate to the problems of equipping, staffing and preparing the police organization to do
the job, rather than to its actual operation as an organized force.
 According to coverage

❖ Local plans
❖ Regional plans
❖ National plans

According to time

1. Strategic or long range Plan – it relates to plans which are strategic, or long range in application and it determine
the organization’s original goals and strategy. (This is a type of police plan with a life span of three (3) years or
more)
2. Intermediate or medium Range Planning- it relates to plans, which determine quantity and quality efforts and
accomplishments. It refers to the process of determining the contribution on efforts that can make or provide
with allocated resources. (This is a type of police plan with a life span of two (2) years or more)

The Six Master Plans

3. Operational or Short Range planning- refers to the production of plans , which determine the schedule of special
activity and are applicable from one week or less than year duration. Plan that addresses immediate need which
are specific and how it can be accomplished on time with available allocated resources .(This is a type of Police
plan with a life span of one (1) year).

Six Master Plan of the PNP

1. LOI 39/2001 “SANDIGAN MASTER PLAN” (Anti-Criminality Master Plan) dated 03 December 2001.

This plan shall serve as the Master Plan in which all plans and programs of the PNP shall conform with
and supplement. It shall prescribe the grand strategy to be undertaken by PNP Offices and Personnel on crime
prevention, control and suppression, in the total fight against all forces of criminality.

2. LOI 40/2001 “SANDUGO MASTER PLAN” (The PNP ISO Master Plan) dated 04 December 2001
This serves as the long-range and holistic master plan of the PNP in waging an internal security support
operations nationwide. Premised on the estimate of the national situation and other considerations, it prescribes
the counter- insurgency support strategy, operational concept, scheme of implementation, service support and
coordinating instructions in order to accomplish the PNP’s internal security support mission.

3. LOI 42/2001 “SANGYAMAN MASTER PLAN” dated 06 December 2001 (PNP’s Master Plan to help Protect
and preserve our Environment, Cultural Properties and Natural Resources)
This Master Plan prescribes the guidelines to be followed by tasked PNP Units/ Offices in assisting lead
government agencies in the enforcement of laws over Philippine territorial waters, lakes, rivers, mountain
ranges, forest, to include laws and ordinances that have been set forth to preserve, protect and enhance our
 environment and natural resources, in close coordination with the Department of the Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) and other tasked government agencies.
4. LOI 43/2001 “SANG-BANAT MASTER PLAN” ( PNP’s ISO Master Plan for the Campaign against
illegal drugs) dated 07 December 2001
This Master Plan sets forth the concept of operations, operational guidelines and tasks of all PNP units/
offices in the total fight against illegal: integrating/ orchestrating the activities of all concerned National
Government Agencies (NGA’s) in the conduct of anti- illegal drug campaign at the national down to Barangay
levels.

5. LOI 44/ 2001 “SANG-INGAT MASTER PLAN” ( Master Plan on Security Preparations) dated 10 December
2001
This Master Plan sets forth the strategic concepts and operational guidelines, as well as contingency
plan to ensure the maintenance of peace and order during the year- round observance of holidays, which
involves great concern on movement of the citizens, international, national and local meeting/ conferences/
events, and rallies/ mass action in protest to wide range of issues.
6. LOI 45/ 2001 “SAKLOLO MASTER PLAN” ( Master Plan on Disaster preparedness) dated 12 December
2001
This Master Plan sets forth the strategic concepts, operational guidelines and coordinating instructions
to be undertaken by PRO’s and tasked units/ offices on disaster management. With this letter of instructions,
the action that will be undertaken by the concerned PNP units/ offices will be as responsive and possible with
the support of the government agencies and community.

Basics steps in Planning

1. Recognition of the need for a plan

2. Formulation of the Plan’s objectives
3. Gathering and analyzing relevant data
4. Development of the details of the plan
5. Obtaining Organizational Concurrences

Sequence in Police Planning Process

1. Setting Planning Goals
2. Preparing for Planning
3. Identifying the Problems
4. Identifying Alternative Solutions

Stages in Police Planning Activities

1. Frame of reference
2. Clarifying the problem
3. Collecting pertinent facts
4. Analyzing the facts
5. Developing Alternative Plans
6. Selecting Appropriate Alternative
7. Selling the Plan
8. Arranging for execution of the Plan
9. Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Plan