The topic of police contribution to maintaining law and order is a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2, appearing approximately once every 3-4 months in actual tests. As the impact of digital technology on public safety continues to evolve, this subject becomes increasingly relevant for test-takers.
Police officers maintaining law and order in urban setting
Analysis of Common Test Questions
A frequently encountered question type on this topic is:
Some people believe that police officers should focus primarily on preventing crime, while others think responding to crimes after they occur is more important. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Question Analysis
- Topic: Police role in crime management
- Task: Discuss both views + opinion
- Key areas: Crime prevention vs. crime response
- Format: Two-sided discussion with personal stance
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8.5)
The debate over whether police forces should prioritize crime prevention or crime response has garnered significant attention, particularly as regulating surveillance technologies for privacy becomes more complex. While both approaches have their merits, I believe a balanced combination with a slight emphasis on prevention is most effective.
Prevention-focused policing involves community engagement, surveillance, and deterrence through visible presence. This proactive approach can significantly reduce crime rates by addressing root causes and creating an environment where criminal activities are less likely to occur. For instance, regular police patrols in high-risk areas and community outreach programs have been shown to reduce burglary rates by up to 40% in many urban areas.
However, reactive policing remains crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring justice. When crimes do occur, swift and effective response demonstrates the system’s reliability and helps victims receive immediate assistance. Moreover, thorough investigation and prosecution of crimes serve as deterrents for potential offenders.
In my view, while both aspects are essential, prevention should receive slightly more attention. This approach is more cost-effective and reduces human suffering by stopping crimes before they occur. Nevertheless, police forces must maintain robust response capabilities to handle inevitable criminal activities.
Word count: 270
Band 8.5 Features:
- Sophisticated vocabulary
- Clear position
- Well-developed arguments
- Cohesive structure
- Relevant examples
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6.5)
The role of police in society is very important, and people have different opinions about what they should focus on. Some think preventing crime is more important, while others believe responding to crimes should be the main focus.
People who support prevention say it is better to stop crimes before they happen. When police officers patrol the streets and talk to people in the community, they can stop many problems. This makes people feel safer and costs less money than dealing with crimes after they happen.
On the other hand, responding to crimes is also important. When someone commits a crime, the police need to catch them quickly and help the victims. This shows that the law works and makes people trust the police more. How to deal with the rise of surveillance technology in everyday life has made this job more complex.
I think both jobs are important, but prevention should be the main focus. It is better to stop bad things from happening than to fix problems later. However, police should also be ready to respond when needed.
Word count: 255
Band 6.5 Features:
- Simple but clear structure
- Basic vocabulary
- Limited range of complex sentences
- Some repetition
Key Vocabulary
- deterrence (n) /dɪˈtɜːrəns/ – prevention of something by fear of consequences
- proactive (adj) /prəʊˈæktɪv/ – controlling a situation rather than responding to it
- surveillance (n) /sɜːˈveɪləns/ – close observation of someone or something
- outreach (n) /ˈaʊtriːtʃ/ – extending services to wider sections of the population
- swift (adj) /swɪft/ – happening quickly or promptly
Police officers engaging with local community members
Conclusion
Understanding police roles in maintaining law and order remains a crucial IELTS topic. Future test variations might include questions about should the government regulate the use of surveillance technology in policing or the balance between police authority and civil rights. Practice writing your own response to the sample question and share it in the comments for feedback and improvement.
