ROLE OF CITIZENS IN COMMUNITY POLICING IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE

ROLE OF CITIZENS IN COMMUNITY POLICING IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE

ABSTRACT

This research was initiated to assess the role of citizens in community policing in Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State. The specific objectives include: to examine the nature of crime in Calabar South; to identify the factors that facilitate crime in Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State to identify the challenges of formal agencies of crime control; to assess the roles of citizens in community policing and crime prevention in Calabar South; and to suggest possible ways of increasing the effectiveness of community in Calabar South. The study employed the survey research design. Questionnaires were distributed to a total of 120 respondents while 12 respondents were captured for the in depth interview. The study employed the stratified random sampling technique in selecting the wards under study as well as the respondents. Findings revealed that the types of crime perpetrated in Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State include burglary, armed robbery, rape and the abuse of drugs and substance. More so, findings revealed that factors such as unemployment, poverty, greed/ redundancy among youth and the use of drugs and substance facilitate crime in Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State. Similarly, it was also revealed that the challenges of formal agencies of crime control include lack of logistics, inadequate crime control equipment and facilities in execution their duties and corruption among officers. Furthermore, it was revealed that the roles of citizens in community policing and crime prevention in Calabar South include formation of vigilante groups, collaboration with formal agencies for crime control, rendering of physical, social and financial support to crime control agencies and provision of good communication network to crime control agencies. Finally, findings revealed that, there a significant relationship between the roles of citizens in community policing and extent of criminal activities within Calabar South; there is a significant relationship between criminal activities and the socio-economic development of the society. Community policing can be improved in certain measures and recommendations are put in place: good means of communication/relationship with formal agencies, frequent night patrols, citizen’s participation in community decision making and awareness creation on security cautiousness.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

In the past, traditional communities have increasingly used informal remedies to compel non-offending third parties to prevent or take action or investigate crime, drug and disorder in their neighbourhood. However, today, preventing and resolving neighbourhood crime and disorder is the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies and other formal government authorities (Roehl 1998).

The importance of citizens in crime prevention and order maintenance efforts became apparent in the mid-1970s, as concerns about street crime and residential burglaries began to rise and it became obvious that the police and other security agencies could not control and prevent crime effectively. With the formation and early success neighbourhood and block watch efforts, citizens themselves realized they could do something about the local crime problems that concerned them most. Aubow and Emmons (1981) labeled this the "Community Hypothesis". Stating that neighbourhood residents could be mobilized to participate in collective crime prevention, which get residents to take greater responsibility for local problems, rebuild informal social control and reduce crime and fear of crime.

Presently, criminal activities seem to be on the increase while the police force appears to become dysfunctional despite government huge expenditure on crime control. But this dysfunctionalism or inability of the prosecutorial agent of the state to combat the crime phenomenon is usually blamed on poor numeric strength, lack of sophisticated crime control equipment, poor welfare package, poor training of personnel, lack of assistance/information from civil society, poor budgeting allocation among others. This explains why the efficiency of the police as a law enforcement agency is very much in doubt. These further stresses on the importance of citizens in community policing in preventing crime in order to compliment the efforts of the police force and other security agencies.

Community policing is a complimentary security management strategy for  the prevention and control of neighbourhood crime(Monsuru and Rafiu 2016). The outcomes of the partnership between police and community however differ. Thus, the effectiveness in the way through which community policing is implemented an any given community will largely impact on the outcome of the approach whether it will be successful or not(Young & Tinsley, 1998). These partnerships are very essential because the police are only one of the agencies responsible for addressing community problems, and other agencies need to take responsibility and respond to crime prevention and problem solving in partnership with police at all level (ibid).

Community policing is anchored on a systematic relationship between the police and the entire citizenry. According to Ikuteyijo (2009), community policing entails community partnership in creating a safe and secure environment for all. Police roles and functions are not simply law enforcement but also include tackling a huge range of community problems (Okeshola and Mudiare 2013). The transition from traditional policing to community policing is a global phenomenon and the Nigeria police cannot be an exception. Indeed, community policing as a philosophy and practice is a veritable vehicle for police reforms (Okiro, 2007).

In 2006, an analysis by the United Nations indicates an approximate median of 300 police officers per 100,000 inhabitants. Only nine countries disclosed values lower than 100 officers per 100,000 inhabitants. The highest median of police officers around 400 was observed in West Asia, Eastern and Southern Europe. The median of police officers per population remained stable around 2002-2006, after an increase between 1995 and 2002 (Wikipedia 2016). But in the case of Nigeria, the police personnel were not up the general accepted number per head.

The Nigeria police in 2004 embraced community policing as a pragmatic approach to police reforms. The stage was indeed set for a clear departure from traditional policing, that was reactive and incident based, to a problem-solving oriented policing that is proactive with the community as the cornerstone of policing objectives (Abdulrahaman, 2007).

Like several other nations world over, Nigerian police force embraced the philosophy of community policing on the principle that in a democratic society, the police are interested by their fellow citizens to protect and serve the public’s fundamental rights to liberty, equality and justice under the law. To fulfill that privileged role, the police must be a part of, not apart from, the communities they serve. On 27th April, 2004, community policing was formally launched throughout Nigeria (The Dawn Newspaper, 2011).

Community policing is a paradigm shift that seeks to focus on constructive engagement with people who are the end users of the police service and re-negotiate the contract between the people and the police thereby making the community co-producers of justice and a quality police service. The most recent attempt made by the Nigeria police force to improve its performance was the introduction of community policing programme in 2004(Okeshola and Mudiare 2013). This was part of the Force’s effort to change policing to a modern and professional policing capable of providing maximum security of lives and property in Nigeria. Community oriented policing is a proactive philosophy that promotes solving problems that are either criminal, affect the quality of life, or increase citizens fear of crime Okeke (2013). It involves identifying, analysing and addressing community problem sat their source.   

Community policing has been in existence in Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State for the past years and have been very anxious in the fight against crime such as armed robbery, assault, burglary, theft rape, cattle rustling and the likes. Despite their efforts to subdue the aforementioned social problems, they are still on the increase due to one reason or the other. This therefore made the populace to live in fear and serious tension. Some challenges faced by the institution of community policing may include lack of support from the community, citizens, Governments and law enforcement agents. Other challenges may include lack of sophisticated weapons to combat criminals as well as the fear of risking the lives of members to engage in such difficult task.

This study is therefore set out to examine the role of citizens in community policing in crime prevention and control in Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State, and the Nigerian society at large.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

The phenomenon of crime has been into existence since time immemorial. It is a social problem that has demanded public outcry. Crime has far reaching consequences on the educational, economic and social development of the people in Nigeria. The Government in recent times beginning from the federal down to the local level have been providing crime fighting strategies, yet criminal activities still prevails and even on the increase.

More worrisome is the seemingly unrealistic and inefficiency in crime control by the law enforcement agents especially the police who are the gate keepers in the Criminal Justice System.  Despite the role of government agencies in crime control, the phenomenon of crime still persists in and on the increase in the Nigerian society, which perhaps leads to increase in loss of lives and properties. Precisely, Nigeria lacks adequate police personnel, equipment and logistics to secure the entire country (Zumve 2012).the police on their part has being considered to be ineffective in the course of delivering their main duty(protection of lives and properties of citizens) because of the above mentioned problems. This has led to increase in criminal activities in the study area, creating an environment of fear and insecurity, which in other ways impede socio economic activities. Calabar South however, is considered to be stagnant in terms of development as a result of the inefficiency of the police force to tackle the challenges of insecurity. 

More so, it has been observed that crime fighting agencies face some problems such as poor numeric strength, poor knowledge and information about criminal activities in the communities, poor training of personnel, and lack of sophisticated weapons among others. This in turn leads to increase in criminal activities in the society. The criminal activities in the study area (Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State) ranges from such common crimes like theft, burglary, armed robbery, rape, assault, cattle rustling, and the likes. These criminal activities had created fear on the lives of citizens; as it led to loss of lives and properties over the years.

The institution of community policing emerged in order to complement the activities of police in prevention and control of crime. Members of the community generally accept this method because they fully participate in it as their indigenous system of maintaining social order. However, it has been observed that the system has also lost its aim due to some reasons. It lacks maximum resources to combat criminal activities in the area; in some cases, it has been observed that the vigilante group also perpetrates criminal activities and also harbor criminals. They also use this as an avenue to oppress their opponents (those who do not belong to their groups) and other members of the society.

It is against this background that, citizens play significant roles in preventing and controlling crime. The citizens play important roles to compliment the government roles in preventing crime in our society; such roles include building of fences, burglary, forming of groups and organizations and watching out for neighbours, this and many more constitute the roles of citizens in community policing and crime control in Nigeria. Citizens also face some challenges in their attempts to complement the role of government agencies in combating criminal activities: some of which include lack of logistics, lack of sophisticated weapons to combat crime, lack of cooperation by the public and many more.

It is from the fore-going that this study is set up to examine the roles of citizens in community policing in crime prevention in Nigeria, with particular reference to Calabar South Local Area of Cross River State.

TOPIC: ROLE OF CITIZENS IN COMMUNITY POLICING IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE

Chapters: 1 - 5
Delivery: Email

Number of Pages: 92

Price: 3000 NGN

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