What is one principle of urban patrolling that emphasizes teamwork and collaboration among patrol members?

The principle of mutual support is vital in urban patrolling as it fosters teamwork and collaboration among patrol members. This approach emphasizes the importance of officers relying on and assisting each other during operations, ensuring that they provide cover and assistance in potentially dangerous situations. By promoting an environment where officers actively support one another, it enhances overall safety and effectiveness in policing.

Mutual support allows patrol members to leverage their collective skills and knowledge, creating a more strategic and cohesive response to incidents. This principle is integral in urban environments, where challenges can arise unexpectedly and having a united front ensures that officers can effectively manage those situations, making informed decisions with backup readily available.

In contrast, the other options touch on different aspects of patrolling but do not specifically highlight the importance of teamwork in the same way. Depth concerns operational tactics related to the spacing and movement patterns of patrols. Pattern avoidance refers to the unpredictability of patrol routes to avoid establishing patterns that could be exploited by criminals. Intra-patrol communication deals with the communication methods used within a patrol team but does not inherently reflect the collaborative spirit emphasized by mutual support.