The Precinct is a game where every patrol day is full of surprises. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced officer, these tips will help you act more efficiently, progress faster, and avoid common mistakes. There’s no fluff here — just proven tips, hidden mechanics, and tricks. Ready to level up your skills? Let’s go!

The Precinct: 10 Best Tips and Tricks

Welcome to Averno City, a city where the laws are written not only in textbooks, but also on the streets. In The Precinct, your effectiveness depends not only on reactions, but also on understanding mechanics that the developers do not always explain explicitly. This guide is the result of hours of patrolling, trial and error. Here are collected:

Time-saving tips in critical situations.
Skills that are worth upgrading first.
Features that are not written about in the official manual.

Content:

Don’t try to remember the instructions.
Choice between independent convoy and calling for reinforcements.
How to identify gang members by their cars and clothes.
Don’t wait for Kelly – start moving without a partner.
Benefits of Overtime Shifts.
Use high cover in firefights.
Aggressive Driving: How to Catch Up with Criminals Fast.
How to call a new patrol car.
Top 5 skills to level up first.
Quickly end a shift via the support menu.

Don’t try to remember the instructions.

The first working day begins with a huge reference book, and it seems that you need to learn it from cover to cover. But don’t panic – you don’t have to remember everything! The manual is always at hand, and you can refer to it at any time if you have any doubts.

For example, in the early days I was constantly checking the rules to understand when it was acceptable to use a Taser. It turned out that a Taser could be used against a criminal committing a non-violent offense, but not against a peaceful person simply running away from you.

The same goes for the intricacies of the charges against you – sometimes you can’t figure it out without a reference book. Instead of trying to memorize every line, just know where to look for the answers. Over time, the main points will stick in your memory.

In general, here are some tips:

Search according to the situation – do not try to master everything at once, open the necessary sections as needed.
Clarify controversial points – if you doubt the admissibility of force or the wording of the accusation, it is better to double-check.
Use it as a cheat sheet – even experienced employees sometimes look at the rules to avoid making mistakes.

The main thing is not to overload yourself with unnecessary information. The guide is designed to help, not to stress!

Choice between independent convoy and calling for reinforcements

One of the first skills you will learn is transporting detainees to the station. You have two options:

Delivering the criminal yourself gives more experience, but requires time on the way there and back.
Calling for a police escort is convenient if you need to quickly return to patrol, especially in hot spots.

Deliver it yourself

Pros:

Gives more experience – useful for leveling up.
Best suited for the end of your shift when you’re heading to the station anyway.

Cons:

It wastes time, especially if the criminal is far from the station.

Call for reinforcements

Pros:

Saves time – you can immediately take care of other calls.
Indispensable in dynamic situations (for example, during mass riots).

Cons:

Doesn’t give as much experience as personal delivery.

Important nuance: the shift timer stops while you are inside the station. So if you want to stay on duty longer, enter the building before the end of your shift.

When is what more profitable?

Call an escort if the area is restless and every minute counts.
Lead the detainee yourself if you want maximum experience or are already finishing your work.

The main thing is to act according to the situation. There are no strict rules, only tactics!

How to Identify Gang Members

In a neighborhood patrol situation, one effective method of gathering evidence is to closely monitor gang attributes such as their vehicles and distinctive clothing. While this approach can be considered a form of profiling, it can often quickly identify potential offenders.

The main signs of gang activity :

Unique cars – each group has its own models and color schemes.
Characteristic clothing – gangs wear certain items of clothing that can be used to identify them.

How to check suspicious persons and vehicles

Even if gang members are not actively wanted, there is a high probability that they have either already broken the law or are preparing to do so. Checking such targets can be useful in two ways:

Stopping suspicious vehicles :
- When attempting to inspect or seize the vehicle, the bandits may resist, which will provide legal grounds for detention.
- An alternative option is to scan numbers through the system to identify previous offenses.
Inspection of pedestrians in bandit clothing:
- Individuals dressed in the group’s colors often carry illegal items or are wanted by the police.

Recommendations for using the method:

Don’t rely solely on external signs – always confirm your suspicions by checking documents or a database.
Proceed with caution: aggressive actions against gangs may provoke armed conflict.

Using this approach saves time on patrols, but requires vigilance and knowledge of local criminal groups.

Don’t wait for Kelly

During patrol, your partner Kelly accompanies you, but there are no strict rules requiring his constant physical presence in the car. Despite some impoliteness, you can start driving without him – Kelly will automatically appear in the passenger seat after a short time .

So just go without Kelly, as this mechanic gives such advantages as:

Pursuit of criminals – If the suspect is trying to escape on foot or stealing a car, every second counts. Waiting for Kelly to get into the car could result in losing the target.
Responding to emergency calls – When crimes are reported while on patrol, quickly getting to the scene is often critical.
The game does not impose penalties for starting a movement without a partner.
Kelly’s teleportation into the car happens almost instantly , so there are no delays in operation.

This approach is particularly useful in the following situations:

If there is a need to urgently move to another part of the area.
During active pursuit, when delay is unacceptable.
When working under limited patrol time conditions.

This method allows you to maintain the game’s realism while eliminating unnecessary elements that slow down the response to crimes. The main thing is to remember that Kelly will always be there, even if you leave him behind for a while.

Benefits of Overtime Shifts

Although the game periodically reminds you to end your shift, you can continue patrolling without any negative consequences. Moreover, in some cases, overtime work becomes necessary. However, remember that the main reason for ending your shift on time is to convert the accumulated experience into:

Increase character level.
Getting upgrade points.

There are several main reasons why it is worth staying late at work.

Completing difficult achievements

Some game achievements require completing large-scale tasks within a single shift:

Earn 10,000 exp per duty
Taking the first position in the shift ranking

Progress in the investigation

Long shifts can affect the development of the storyline associated with the investigation of a high-profile crime. Although the exact mechanisms for activating new stages of the investigation are unknown, experience shows that long patrols contribute to the progression of the plot.

This approach gives players the freedom to choose between fast character progression and completing difficult in-game tasks. It is important to note that regardless of the chosen strategy, working outside the set shift time does not entail any penalties.

Use high cover in firefights

The game’s combat system is built around cover principles: you take up a position, fire a shot, and recover from damage. Although the environment often encourages the use of low cover, a more effective tactic may be to use high walls and other large objects.

The following shortcomings were observed in early versions of the game :

The sight often shifted to the left of the target after leaving cover.
The game remembered the last position of the crosshair, which could be disorienting in tense situations.

Advantages of high shelters :

Ease of movement – moving sideways (strafing) from behind a high wall is faster and more accurate than climbing from behind a low barrier.
Aim control – when using high cover, the aim does not get lost, unlike the automatic cover system.
Battlefield Overview – Standing behind a high wall gives you a better overview of the situation.

Some tips for conducting firefights:

Choose high cover where possible – it provides better control over the situation.
Use manual aiming instead of the automatic cover system for more accurate shooting.
Practice strafing – quickly moving from behind cover, firing, and returning to a protected position.

Using high cover and consciously not using the automatic cover system can greatly increase your effectiveness in firefights. Remember that proper positioning is often more important than firing speed.

Aggressive driving

Contrary to expectations about strict restrictions for cops, the game actively encourages aggressive driving during chases. Here are some key ways to shorten the distance during a chase :

Off-Road Driving – When pursuing fast suspects, feel free to take the shortcut via:
- Park areas.
- Construction sites.
- Wastelands.
Breaking through fences – wooden fences and temporary barriers should not become an obstacle.
Using narrow passages – alleys and courtyards often become the optimal route.

Despite the seeming permissiveness, maintain control over the vehicle – too rough a collision can disable the car.

This approach is fully consistent with the game mechanics and does not entail any penalties, making chases more spectacular and effective.

How to call a new car

During foot patrols, there may be a need to urgently get to the place of the call. In this case, use the function to call a new patrol car.

Basic method (always available): Open the support menu (V on PC), select “New patrol car” – a clean police car will appear in the line of sight. Your previous vehicle (if there are detainees in it) will remain in place.
If you have unlocked the skill: If you have the “Requisition” upgrade, you can take and drive civilian cars – this is especially useful in emergency situations.

This is especially useful in emergency calls with time constraints or when your vehicle is too far away. The game allows you to maintain mobility without compromising current operational tasks.

Always assess the situation – sometimes it is faster to run on foot or wait for reinforcements than to call for new transport. But in critical cases, this system is a real salvation for rapid response.

The best skills to start with

Although the game’s upgrade system is fairly balanced, some abilities are especially useful at the start. Here are the top skills to unlock first:

Breath Control (Physical Skills):
• Slows down time when aiming.
• Indispensable in shootouts and when detaining armed criminals.
Additional Holster (Combat Skills):
• Allows you to carry two types of weapons at the same time.
• A universal solution for different operational situations.
Vehicle Requisition (Driving Skills):
• Allows you to drive civilian vehicles.
• Particularly useful when patrolling on foot.
Increased supply of support tokens (Service Skills):
• Allows you to call in reinforcements more often.
• Critical when operating in “hot” areas.
Call in SWAT (Service Skills):
• Adds an armored van to the list of available support.
• Saves in situations of mass riots.

Start with physical and combat skills – they give an immediate advantage in everyday operations. Transport and service upgrades are worth taking as you master the game mechanics.

These improvements create a solid foundation for effective performance, allowing you to gradually master more specialized abilities.

How to quickly end a shift

Many players do not immediately realize that a shift can be finished not only at the station, but also right on the street through the radial menu .

The advantages of this method:

Saves time – no need to return to the station.
Convenience – available at any time during patrol.
Instant results – experience and progress are recorded immediately.
This method does not give any penalties – the game takes into account all earned experience and achievements.

When is it best to use Quick Shift End:

After completing a difficult task, when you urgently need to save the result.
If you need to quickly finish the game.
To quickly obtain upgrade points.

Now, armed with these tips, you’re ready to patrol the streets of Averno City more effectively. Good luck, Officer!