What is considered the backbone of police work?

Well police work constitutes several different factors. One is to detect crime, and that more often than not, in all developed nations, involves surveillance and "Intel" on suspicious personnel. This can range from your day to day uniformed officers to the more high end types like covert FBI and CIA who are most often than not, seen wearing plainclothes.

Next is to deter crime, and this is done as a preventive action. This can come through the form of having good relationships with the surrounding community, building up support from the grassroots and of course, addressing the issues and crime related concerns poised by these stakeholders.

And the most commonly seen type of policing, would be the normal day to day patrol officers. These officers are deemed to be the front-liners against vice and criminal activities, and often than not perceived as the only backbone of policing work.

However, alike all corporate organizations, each police force has a wide range of supporting services which ensures the functionality of the police. But in essence, the above 3 factors constitutes the seen and unseen "backbone" of police work. Hope this helps:)