Nwamarah Uche
PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF COMMUNITY POLICING AS AN
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Digitally Signed by: Content manager’s Name
DN : CN = Weabmaster’s name
O= University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Nwamarah Uche
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY
PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF COMMUNITY POLICING AS AN
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR CRIME REDUCTION
NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE
NWANKWO, ERNEST EMEKA
PG/M.Sc/10/52367
1
Digitally Signed by: Content manager’s
DN : CN = Weabmaster’s name
O= University of Nigeria, Nsukka
SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY
PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF COMMUNITY POLICING AS AN
CTION IN ENUGU
OF ENUGU STATE.
NWANKWO, ERNEST EMEKA
2
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA
FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY
TOPIC:
PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF COMMUNITY POLICING AS AN
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR CRIME REDUCTION IN ENUGU
NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE.
PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND
ANTHROPOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA. IN
PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF M.SC IN SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
BY
NWANKWO, ERNEST EMEKA
PG/M.Sc/10/52367
SUPERVISOR: DR. C. U. UGWUOKE
OCTOBER 2013
3
TITLE PAGE
PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF COMMUNITY POLICING AS AN EFFECTIVE
STRATEGY FOR CRIME REDUCTION IN ENUGU NORTH LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE.
CERTIFICATION
4
This is to certify that Ernest Emeka Nwankwo a post graduate student in the Department of
Sociology and Anthropology with registration number PG/M.Sc/10/52367 has satisfactorily
completed the requirements for the award of M.Sc in sociology and anthropology
(criminology, conflict and social change). The project report here is original and has not
been done either in part or full in this University or any other for diploma or degree.
Sign ................................................ Date......................................
Dr. C.U. Ugwuoke
(Project Supervisor)
Sign ................................................. Date......................................
Prof. E.E. Anugwom
(Head of Department)
Sign ................................................. Date......................................
Prof. C.O.T. Ugwu
(Dean, Faculty of Social Science)
Sign ................................................. Date......................................
Prof. C.F. Okolocha
(External Examiner)
DEDICATION
5
This work is dedicated to the defenceless who are suffering injustice as a result of not
having the mouth that can speak for them.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
6
Above all, I salute God my Ebenezer (The Stone of Help) who through all several
difficulties proved that there is nothing too hard for Him to do for those who trust in Him.
I greatly acknowledge and honour my mentor and a father I had never had, Elder
Sunday U. Ugwu who prefers to go hungry in order for me to be attended to. My parents
and siblings, especially Chinyere and Gregory that saw the need to know how am fairing
and provide for some of my needs through the little they have during my studies. With
tears in my cheek, may God bless and remember you.
I owe a great deal also to all my lecturers especially Dr. C. U Ugwuoke who is my
supervisor for his tolerance, contributions and encouragement. To my discussant Mr. F.O
Mbah, who discussed this work through proposal stage and his useful corrections and
contributions throughout the whole work, I am grateful. I gave a big credit to Dr.B.N
Nwokeoma who did more than enough to contain me with other students under him to see
that this work is a success. God alone will bless you Dr. B.N. Nwokeoma and every other
lecturers that have imparted knowledge on me.
I must thank God in a special way for the gift of friends like Ndubuisi Mbamalu,
Benjamin Okafor, Onyekachi Agu, Obinna Ofojeama, Chukwudi Nwokolo, Rosemary
Okeke, and a wonderful friend Chinwendu Ozoh for their prayers and words of advice.
My profound gratitude to Rev. Fr. Luke Ezeh, Rev. Sisters Mary Anthony and Chioma
whose prayers and financial support sustained me throughout my studies in University of
Nigeria Nsukka.
Ernest Emeka Nwankwo (Odumegwu)
7
ABSTRACT
Preventing crime and reducing fear of crime, are both closely related to rebuilding strong
communities. It is in view of this that the federal government of Nigeria through Nigerian
Police introduced Community Policing in order to include both the police and all the
Nigerians in the fight against crime. This study was embarked on to ascertain the fruitfulness
of the program since inception in Nigeria and Enugu North in particular. Six hundred (600)
respondents aged eighteen years and above were selected through simple random sampling
without replacement formula from target population of 244,852 of the residents of Enugu
North Local Government Area to respond to twenty five (25) questions and ten, (10)
respondents for in-depth interviews were purposively selected to know their opinion
concerning Community Policing as an effective strategy for crime reduction. The result
showed that residents of Enugu North Local Government Area are strongly in support of
Community Policing. The fear of crime has reduced since the introduction of Community
Policing. The study also revealed that although the residents welcomed the strategy as a
good one that should stay but suggested that employment would be a better strategy that
could reduce crime/criminality. The research revealed the challenges faced by the security
agencies (police and other security agencies) to live up to the standard for effective
Community Policing to includes: recruitment of some unqualified personnel, insufficient
crime fighting equipment/patrol vehicles, inadequate remuneration of the security personnel,
and lack of trust of information to the security agencies by the residents. Finally, it was
recommended that the Nigerian Police and other security agencies should put more effort to
improve on their relationship with the members of the public in other to gain the confidence
of the people for easy flow of information because without information by both parties,
Community Policing will die away.
8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement vi
Abstract v
Table of Content vi
List of Tables ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Research Questions 6
1.4 Objectives of the Study 6
1.5 Significance of the Study 7
1.6 Operationalization of Terms 8
9
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Review of Empirical Literature 10
2.2 Review of Theoretical Literature 12
2.3 Review of Relevant Theories 16
2.4 Theoretical Orientation 20
2.5 Hypotheses of the Study 22
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Design of the Study 23
3.2 Area of the Study 23
3.3 Population of the Study 24
3.4 Sample Size 25
3.5 Sampling Techniques 26
3.6 Instrument of Data Collection 27
3.7 Administration of Instrument 28
3.8 Methods of Data Analysis 29
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
4.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents 30
4.2 Substantive Issues of the Research on People’s Perception on Community
Policing Program as Effective Crime Reduction Strategy 34
4.3 Test for Hypotheses 48
4.4 Discussion of findings 52
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 57
10
5.2 Findings 57
5.3 Limitation and Suggestions for Further Study 59
5.4 Conclusion 50
5.5 Recommendations 50
References 62
Appendixes 69
List of Tables
Tables
Pages
4.1.1 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Sex 30
4.1.2 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Age 31
4.1.3 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Educational qualification 32
4.1.4 Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Occupation 32
4.1.5 Percentage Distribution of Marital Status 33
4.1.6 Percentage Distribution of Religious Affiliation 34
4.2.1 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on incidence of crime in Enugu
North 35
4.2.2 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on victim of crime 35
4.2.3 Percentage Distribution on how often one have heard crime in his area 36
4.2.4 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on the kind of crime that was
rampant in the local government 37
4.2.5 Crime Statistics of 2007 to 2011 of Enugu North L G A of Enugu State
4.2.6 Percentage Distribution of Respondents assessment of crime rate in
11
Enugu North L.G. 38
4.2.7 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on how often one see the police
in the area of study 39
4.2.8 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on how the residents rate the
efforts of the police to dictate and control crime in the area 40
4.2.9 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on whether the police collaborates
with residents of the community in crime reduction 40
4.2.10 Percentage Distribution of Respondents who have heard of community
Policing 41
4.2.11 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on the assessment of the
performance of the community trained police men in crime control 42
4.2.12 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on the rate of relationship
between the police and other security agencies in the area 42
4.2.13 Percentage Distribution of Respondents relationship with the police
in their Local Government 43
4.2.14 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on people’s support of public
partnership with the police in crime control 44
4.2.15 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on reason(s) for saying yes 44
4.2.16 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on rate of relationship of the
police and members of society 45
4.2.17 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on how residents rate the fear
of crime 46
4.2.18 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on peoples support for police/
public partnership 46
12
4.2.19 Percentage Distribution of Respondents People’s perception on
community policing 47
4.2.20 Percentage Distribution of Respondents other strategy that could enhance
crime free society 48
4.3.1 Chi-Square Test Distribution on the fear of crime now the police and
Community are partners 49
4.3.2 Chi-Square Test Distribution on the assessment of Police officers who
are trained in community policing and those who are not trained in
the line
4.3.3 Chi-Square Test Distribution of Reason(s) for support of community
Policing 50
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CHAPTER ONE
Introduction:
1.1 Background to the Study:
Crime is one of the most obvious events which confront people in the late
modern age (Giddens, 2004). Ehindero, Inspector General of Police stated in a lecture
delivered to Participants of National War College, Abuja that ‘perhaps the most potent
threat to national security of any country is crime. According to Ugwuoke (2010), crime
and criminality are as old as mankind. Crime to Marshall (2008) is a universal feature of
all human societies. The reason for this according to Marshall is because there is no
human society where norms and values are not violated, from the simplest hunting and
gathering societies to the most complex civilized societies. It is because of this universal
character of crime that every society is expected to have ‘specific mechanisms for the
overall interest and wellbeing of the generality of the populace’ (Igbo, 2007:14)
Ezuugwu (2011) noted that Nigerian society is taking a dangerous path, a path to
nowhere (crime leads to nowhere but destruction), a path to destruction. That the society
is really adrift, a regrettable drift, sustained by a wave of criminality and lawlessness.
That Nigeria these days sleep with one eye closed because of the fear of the rampaging
effects of armed robbery and other associated crimes. Each day unfolds with its strange
tales of one form of crime or the other. It is either there was a robbery attack, kidnapping,
fraud, child trafficking or money laundering. Every society gets the kind of criminal it
deserves because the society prepares the crime while the criminals commit it. Because
the government has shunned her basic obligations of meeting the primary needs of the
individual, criminal activities keeps increasing in the society.
14
According to the table of crime statistics of Enugu state police command, a total of 3682
major crimes were committed between 2007 and 2011 in the state while 684 of the major
crimes came from Enugu North Local Government. This shows the high rate and the
increasing level of crime in the state. Among the crimes listed between 2007 and 2011, theft
and other stealing, obtaining by trick (OBT), house breaking, armed robbery, burglary and
murder recorded the highest incidence. In reaction, the society also accepts ways and
methods to reduce crime that pervade the society.
The history of crime reduction can be divided into three main epochs in Nigeria:
pre-colonial, colonial and post colonial epochs. In Nigeria during pre-colonial era, people
used cults, secret societies, messengers and palace guards as a strategy for crime
reduction (Marenin, 1985). In the colonial epoch, the style and principles of policing or
crime reduction have been described as anti-people by several authors (Alemika and
Chukwuma, 2000; Rotimi, 2001; Okafor, 2006; and Ikuteyijo, 2009). The reason for this
type of description is that the establishment of colonial police was more to serve and
protect the commercial interests of the colonialist. The post colonial Nigeria Police Force
is a carryover from the colonial era because post-colonial Nigeria Police also serve the
interest of their financier (leaders) and nothing better can be expected from them.
Alemika and Chukwuma (2004) noted that even now, after more than three decades of
independence the police see themselves as existing for the government of the day and
wealthy members of the society in much the same way as the colonial government and its
European personnel.
Post-colonial policing epoch in Nigeria has since witnessed numerous reforms.
Community Policing is one of such reforms. Siegel (2005) has noted that in recent years,
police departments have experimented with new forms of law enforcement, including
community policing. Rather than respond to crime, police officers have taken on the role of
15
community change agents, working with the citizens to prevent crimes before they occur.
Community policing was essentially developed in the United States, in the early 1970s when
findings suggested that individuals and neighbourhood groups were capable of contributing
to their own security (Bohm and Haley, 2005; Inciardi, 2007; and Dambazau, 2009).
Community safety is concerned with both the situational and social aspects of crime and
disorder. In a sense, “dealing with such problems requires the involvement of the local
residents, the local authority, business and various agencies, so that on the basis of
partnerships and multiagency cooperation, all are actively mobilized in the pursuit of a safer
social environment” (Tierney, 2006:305).
Community policing as a crime reduction strategy is a security system in which members
of the public are involved in the conduct of policing their locality to complement the efforts
of the police in crime control by giving useful intelligent information to law enforcement
agencies in the neighbourhood (Eke, 2009). In Community policing, the community is
usually expected to engage in the policing role through volunteer schemes, initiating
neighbourhood support networks and augmenting police patrol activities.
Preventing crime and reducing fear of crime, are both closely related to rebuilding
strong communities (Giddens, 2004). It is widely acknowledged that good police/public
relationships are vital to successful policing. Without sustained public contact, officers would
be unable to exercise their discretion appropriately and would find themselves isolated,
increasingly hostile and unable to empathize with the public. In view of this, seven senior
officers from Nigerian police in 2003 went to U.K and U.S.A respectively to do a
comparative study of community policing (Anucha, 2007). It was launched on the 27th day of
April 2004 by the Inspector-General of Police Tafa Balogun during the era of President
Olusegun Obasanjo administration, and Enugu State was used as the pilot state (Anucha,
2007 and Ikuteyijo, 2009).
16
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Crime and the cases of crime is fast becoming a serious problem in contemporary world.
The high rate of crime in Enugu state in general, and Enugu North Local Government in
particular has raised a general feeling of insecurity of lives and property, and have made
residents of the local government to cry out to both the federal and state governments for
urgent assistance to curb the ugly situation in order to safeguard the lives and property of
community members.
In an anxious bid to tackle this rising wave of crime, the federal and state governments
have increased support to Nigeria police service in areas of personnel, logistics and firearms.
However it seems that the more weapons and police personnel deployed to fight crime, the
more criminal activities are committed. Chukwuma (2002) noted that the much that has been
achieved seems to be crime spreading from one local government, state or region to another.
The argument therefore is that to deal with the growing sophisticated armed robbery
operations, superior weapons, more personnel and new methods or strategy like police/public
partnership (community policing) should be introduced.
Each day unfolds with its strange tales of one form of crime or the other. There is hardly
any day that passes now without one crime or the other being committed. From cult-related
killings, to kidnap or suicide, killing of innocent people has become more or less the order of
the day. Indeed cult- related criminal activities have wreck untold havoc in Enugu North
including the loss of lives and limbs and the creation of fear and insecurity (Ezuugwu, 2011).
With the increasing fear of the rampage effects of armed robbery and other associated
criminalities in Enugu North, to what extent have the police helped the residents of Enugu
North L.G to reduce the fear and combat crime?
According to the table of crime statistics of Enugu state police command, a total of
3682 major crimes were committed between 2007 and 2011 in the state while 684 of the
17
major crimes came from Enugu North Local Government. This shows the high rate and the
increasing level of crime in the state. Among the crimes listed, theft and other stealing,
obtaining by trick (OBT), house breaking, armed robbery, burglary and murder recorded the
highest incidence.
The records also show a high prevalence of crime in Enugu North Local Government
Area. The other 16 local governments that made up the state had 81% prevalence. This is an
unusually large rate of crime for one local government.
In response to the high rate of crime, the police increased their presence, embarked on
joint patrol with the military and stationed some Armed Personnel Carriers (APC) at strategic
crime zones in the area. However these steps and strategies from available records, have not
succeeded in reducing the incidence of crime in the area. Instead of reducing crime incidents,
crime rate continue to increase from year to year according to crime statistics of Enugu. This
situation therefore challenges the efficacy of existing crime control methods and demands a
shift in strategy and methods of crime control. Consequently, the method of community
policing was introduced in the state.
However, since the introduction of the new method in the state in 2004, as a pilot
project, not much social research based on the empirical data has been conducted to establish
the effectiveness of community policing in crime reduction in the area. Most of the
information in circulation are mainly based on media reports and speculations. The purpose
of this study is therefore, to fill this research gap and further provide empirical data to
evaluate the perception of the residents of the local government on the effectiveness
community policing especially in Enugu North Local Government Area.
18
1.3 Research Questions
The following research questions are put in place to guide this study:
1. What is the nature/extent of criminal activities in Enugu North Local Government
Area?
2. How effective is community policing in Enugu North Local Government Area?
3. What are the contributions of the community members to the fight for crime reduction
through community policing in Enugu North Local Area of Enugu State?
4. What are the problems encountered by the police in the operation of the community
policing strategy in Enugu North?
5. How cordial is the relationship between the police and the residents of the Local
Government?
6. How the residents of the Local Government perceive community policing?
7. What are the intervention strategies that can enhance the effectiveness of community
policing in Enugu North Local Government?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The general objective of this study is to determine people’s perception on the
effectiveness of community policing as a crime reduction strategy in Enugu North Local
Government Area. The specific objectives are as follows:
1. To ascertain the nature/extent of criminal activities in Enugu North Local
Government Area.
2. To find out the effectiveness of community policing in Enugu North Local
Government Area.
3. To ascertain the contributions of the residents of Enugu North towards community
policing strategy of the police.
19
4. To find out the problems faced by the police in the operation of community policing
strategy in Enugu North Local Government Area.
5. To determine the nature of relationship between the police and residents of Enugu
North Local Government.
6. To find out how the residents in the Local Government perceive community policing.
7. To suggest other intervention strategies that may enhance community policing in
Enugu North Local Government Area.
1.5 Significance of the study
The study has both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, community
policing has not received adequate research in Africa and especially in Nigeria compared to
the extensive researches that have been carried out in the United States and United Kingdom.
For this study will be theoretically significant because its findings will help to close the gap
created by lack of existing literatures on community policing as a strategy for crime reduction
in Nigeria. It will be an addition to the body of existing sociological, criminological and
criminal justice literatures particularly in the area of crime reduction strategies. It will also
stimulate further research on community policing in this part of sub-Sahara Africa, and
Nigeria in particular.
Practically, the study will also draw the attention of the police on the need to strengthen
their relationship with the members of the community where they are working, for effective
crime reduction. The findings of this study will help Enugu North in particular and Nigeria
Government at large to plan on how to improve community policing. The findings will also
20
help the general public to understand how the community policing enhances or lowers
effective crime control when properly applied.
Finally, the outcome of the study will no doubt help in the prevention of crime and
social disorder, and be a useful material to research students of criminology, law, law
enforcement agents and public administrators for a crime free society.
1.6 Operationalization of Terms
The following basic concepts are operationalized for easy comprehension of the study:
Community Policing: It is a collaborative effort between the police and the members of
the public to identify the problems of crime and disorder and to develop solutions from
within the community in crime reduction.
Crime: Crime in this study means any action which contravenes the laws established by
political authority.
Crime Control: In this study, crime control is the means of solving crime problems,
arresting suspects, processing and incapacitating offenders by the members of society,
agents and the criminal justice system.
Crime Fighting Policing: This is the kind of policing that do not need the collaboration
of the member of the society in crime control/fight but solely depend on themselves to
dictate and control crime example is the police we have during military era.
Crime Prevention: In this study, it is the present interventions in stopping future crime.
Crime Reduction: It is all the effort from the people and the government to reduce the
rate of crime in a given society.
Hunting and Gathering societies: This concept means “societies whose mode of
subsistence is gained from hunting animals, fishing and gathering edible plants.
(Giddens, 2004:691).
21
Lack of Understanding: In this study, lack of understanding is the attitude of the police
towards the people that made the people to see the police as uncivilized, brutal and
corrupt and do not want to have anything in common leaking vital information to
Nigerian police vice versal.
Law Enforcement Agencies: They are those that are responsible for detecting, fighting
and controlling crime in any society.
Perception: It is the way a set of people see or understand a given circumstances, or the
awareness created by some people about something or issues.
Strategy: In this study, strategy is the way or means of doing the same thing in a different
way for more positive result.
Traditional Policing: Principally, they are government agency responsible for law
enforcement and also to detect and arrest criminals, (Swanson, Territo and Taylor 1998).
It is also to mean in this research work the kind of police system used before the advent of
the colonial masters, whereby the emirs at the north uses palace guards, the oba at the
west make use of palace guards and council of elders of the east uses age-grade to ensure
order.
22
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
For clarity and ease in the review of relevant literature for this study, this chapter will
review some empirical literature, theoretical literature, relevant theories, theoretical
orientation and research hypotheses.
2.1 Review of Empirical Literatures
Swanson, Territo and Taylor (1998) on the need for community policing noted that
there is very little empirical evidence to suggest that community policing actually works.
That is why in September 1994 the U.S congress passed the crime bill that provided a total of
$8.9 billion for the allocation of 100,000 new local police officers over a five-year period
(1995-2000) to increase and support community policing efforts. In Nigeria, the introduction
of the strategy started in 2004.
Schmalleger (1995) conducted a survey on community policing in Reno, Nevada a
city of 120,000 residents with 313 police officers following 1987 survey of public opinion
which revealed that police department suffered from serious image problem. According to
him, community policing efforts began under Chief R.V. Bradshaw, following the defeat of
the two public referendums to increase funding levels for the department. Following these
and other well-publicized efforts to improve the department’s image, community surveys
reported a considerable degree of success. While the initial 1987 survey found only 31.6% of
residents feeling good about the police department, a similar 1992 survey revealed 68.7% of
the populace reporting such feelings. Similarly, the 33% of respondents reported that officers
“did not convey a feeling of concern” but 67% of the officers feel concerned about the
development. Eventually, renewed citizen satisfaction with the Reno police department
23
resulted in the success of a local tax referendum that provided the additional officers- a 39%
increase in sworn personnel.
A survey conducted in August 2004 in Lagos metropolis by Alemika and Chukwuma
(2005) noted that because of high incidence and fear of crime in Nigeria, many communities
and individuals took several measures to reduce their feeling of vulnerability and minimize
risk of victimization. One of the measures created was Police Community Relations
Committee (PCRC). The provision for the establishment of PCRC in police divisions was
aimed at developing public–police partnership (community policing) in the fight against
crime in the society. The study shows that a third (34%) of the respondents stated that PCRC
existed in their area, while 66% reported that they are aware of the role of Police Community
Relations Community (Alemika and Chukwuma, 2005:4).
Another survey conducted by Alemika and Chukwuma (2007) on Criminal
victimization, safety and policing in Nigeria revealed that 48% (i.e, less than half) of
Nigerians agreed that the police are doing everything they can to help people and to be of
good service to the people. Nearly 3/10 (i.e, 29.9%) of the respondents disagreed that the
police are not doing anything to render good services to the people and slightly more than
one-fifth (22.1%) maintained a neutral position. Alemika and Chukwuma are of the opinion
that people respect, work and have confidence in the police in the societies where the police
serve and work with people in circumstances other than booking them for the breach of law.
There tend to be high level of public hostility towards the police and public where encounter
occur predominantly in the course of law enforcement. Overall public did not perceive the
police as very helpful while overwhelming majority of respondents in some states like
Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, Bauchi and Adamawa states said that the police strive to be
very helpful and of good service to the public (Alemika and Chukwuma,2007:71-3).
24
Relating to the efficacy of community-oriented policing (community policing) as a
reformist strategy, the empirical evidence from Kenya suggests that community policing may
be put to repressive rather than benign use (Carthra, 2009). Anthropological enquires
(relating to the study of humankind) further to a stand-off between Western-style community
policing initiatives pursued under the help or support of a reforming public police, and
indigenous community-based traditions of self-policing in rural Tanzania. Such field
observations point to the need for a more critical engagement with the Western imports of
models of community policing to the underdeveloped reality of Africa (Brogden, 2004 cited
by Carthra, 2009).
2.2 Review of Theoretical Literature
It will be appropriate to look at crime control strategies in both traditional and
modern Nigeria societies and why community policing is been favored among them. The
theoretical literature is divided into two sub-headings for easy understanding and review.
2.2.1: Crime Control Strategies in Traditional Nigerian Societies.
Crime control according to Oputa (1975) is “all efforts and activities designed to hold
the volume of crime in effective check, to keep it from spreading, to restrict and prevent
crime infection and contamination, to prevent crime from breaking and spreading to new
areas, and to protect society against the activities of habitual and abnormal offenders”. Igbo
(2007) has observed that every society takes measures to protect the lives and property of
people living within its boundaries. Ugwuoke (2010) has also noted that crime control
strategies in the traditional era are carried-out in forms of restitution and revenge which are
handled by individuals who took the laws into their own hands and thus carried out
punishment in the form of retaliation. According to Ugwuoke (2010:19), victim retaliation
was the oldest form of crime control strategy.
25
Igbo (2007) and Ugwuoke (2010) noted that crime control strategies in traditional
Nigeria societies are carried out by age-grades, masquerades, extended family, secret cult,
and other local organizations. These groups can impose any of these sanctions: fines and
compensation, ritual cleansing, trial by ordeals, ridicule and gossips, confinement, ostracism,
banishment, capital punishment and socialization as a process of punishment to any defaulter
of the laws of the community. These methods of crime control according to the scholars serve
as informal sanctions which are prevalent in most traditional Nigeria societies.
According to Rubington and Weinberg (1991), Mbiti (1969) and Spector (1999),
crime controls in traditional societies were mostly informal. Good human relation skills, good
characters and behaviours as well as cordiality, folktales, stories and fear of reactive
punishments are some of the preventive strategies used by traditional societies to control
crime. According to Odedele and Egotanwa (2002), Otite and Oginowo (2006), and Best
(2006), only preventive informal strategies are mostly used in traditional/pre-literate societies
to control crime. It is only when the preventive strategies failed that reactive strategies are set
in motion by the traditional societies. Community policing, restitution, mediation,
reconciliation, restoration and reintegration of changed offenders are some of the traditional
crime control strategies that have been revived to checkmate crime in contemporary time.
Family/kinship system, age-grade, traditional title holders are groups in traditional Africa and
in some non western societies which still enforce laws to control crime in contemporary time
(Odedele and Egotanwa, 2002).
2.2.2: Crime Control Strategies in Industrial or Modern societies.
Green (1981:10) stated that crime control strategies in the modern world seemed to
follow no predictable pattern, other than such development was traditionally in response to
public pressure for action. Outside the establishment of night watch patrols in the 17th
26
century, there was no significant effort to establish formal security agencies until the police
department was established in New York City in 1783.
In contemporary Nigeria, some crime control strategies include death penalty,
imprisonment, and fine (Dambazau, 2009; Igbo, 2007; and Ugwuoke, 2010). Only formal
repressive and punitive strategies like death penalty and life imprisonment were approved and
used in controlling crime in most modern societies including Nigeria (Carney, 1977). Some
of the formal crime control strategies are crime control through legislation, law enforcement,
rationalization and death penalty. Contemporary societies including Nigeria adopted some of
the traditional crime control strategies like, fines and compensation, confinements,
reconciliation, conflict resolution, socialization and death penalty to control crime in the
contemporary time (Ugwuoke, 2010).
The formal agencies that are responsible for crime control in contemporary Nigeria
era are the criminal justice system which includes the police, court and the correction
institution (Bohm and Haley, 2005; Igbo, 2007; Inciardi. 2007; Dambazau, 2009; and
Ugwuoke, 2010). These institutions (police, court and the correction centers) established by
the British during colonialism in Nigeria 1861 are used them to enforce sanitary regulations
in the colony.
For decades, sensing that the professional model like preventive patrol, quick
response time, and follow-up investigation did not always operate as efficiently and
effectively as it could, criminal justice researchers set out to review procedures and evaluate
alternative programs for effective crime control (Bohm and Haley, 2005). It is widely
acknowledged that good police/public relationships are vital to successful policing. Without
sustained public contact, officers would be unable to exercise their discretion appropriately
and would find themselves isolated, increasingly hostile and unable to work with the public
27
(Maguire, Morgan and Reiner, 2002). In line with the search for a better effective crime
control strategy, a new strategy which is referred to as community policing was adopted,
“which is the collaborative effort between the police and the community to identify the
problems of crime and disorder, and develop solutions within the community, making the
police more responsive and connected to the communities they serve. Policing is a broad
problem-solving enterprise that includes much more than reactive law enforcement, and that
officers on the street and in the community should have a major role in crime control strategy
(Inciardi, 2007). In view of this, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (2005:259-60)
noted that:
…. the key to security is the responsible exercise of sovereignty, in
the absence of which co-operation among neighbors is required to
deal with internal problems and conflicts. Measures are required to
assure the security of both states where war is no-longer envisaged
as a tool of life assured to their citizens, stability calls for the rule
of law, accountable democratic procedures, the free participation of
the citizenry in governance and full protection of human rights.
Report from Presidential Committees on police reforms in Nigeria stated categorically
that “Nigeria police should establish strategic partnerships with all segments of the society,
including the traditional institutions in order to build the necessary public support for its
crime prevention efforts” (CLEEN Foundation, 2008:32). Nigeria joined the league of other
nations in America and Western Europe to adopt these crime control strategy by receiving
two US experts on community policing for a two day conference on community policing. The
program was aimed at training senior police officers and area commanders in charge of
community policing in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja (This Day, Aug. 1, 2006).
Dickson (2007) noted that community policing was introduced in 2003 when police officers
were sent to England courtesy of the British Department for International Development
28
(DFID) to understand community policing as practiced in the UK. In 2004, more officers
were trained as Community Development Officers (CDOs) in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria.
These officers were asked to spread the message of community policing to other officers in
other states of the federation.
In contemporary societies, implementation plans for community policing is a recent
modern crime control strategy, and it vary from agency to agency and from community to
community. The appropriate implementation strategy depends on conditions within the law
enforcement agency and the society or community that want to embark on it (Bohm and
Haley, 2005). Traditional crime control strategies like, fines and compensation,
confinements, reconciliation, conflict resolution and socialization and death penalty are also
in Nigeria to control crime in the contemporary time ( Ugwuoke, 2010).
2.3 Review of Relevant Theories
This section will therefore review some model and theories relevant to the study and
bring out their strengths as well as their weaknesses, as well adopt the one best suited for this
work as the theoretical orientation.
2.3.1 Social Bond Theory
Social bond theory (also called social control theory) articulated by Travis Hirschi in
his 1969 book (Causes of Delinquencies), is now the dominant version of control theory
(Hirschi,1969 cited by Siegel, 2005 and Siegel, 2007). The theorist links all the onset of
criminality to the weakening of the ties that bind people to society. Hirschi assumes that all
individuals are potential law violators, but they are kept under control because they fear that
illegal behavior will damage their relationships with friends, parents, neighbours, teachers,
and employers (Siegel, 2005; and Siegel, 2007). Without these social ties or bonds, and in
29
the absence of sensitivity and interest in others, a person is free to commit criminal acts. To
Hirschi, among all ethnic, religious, racial, and social groups, people whose bond to society is
weak may fall prey to criminogenic behavior patterns. Hirschi argues that the ‘social bond’ a
person maintains with society is divided into four main elements: attachment, commitment,
involvement, and belief (Siegel, 2005; Siegel, 2007; Inciardi, 2007; and Carter, 2004).
Hirschi further suggested that the interrelationship of social bond elements controls
subsequent behavior.
Social bond theory has been corroborated by numerous research studies showing that
delinquent youth often feel detached from society (Siegel, 2007).
Some of the criticism of Hirschi (social bond) theory include: LaGrange and Raskin
(1985) who noted that Hirschi ignored that social bonds seem to change over time. One of the
most severe criticisms by sociologist Robert Agnew is that Hirschi miscalculated the
direction of the relationship between criminality and a weakened social bond (Agnew,1985).
Hirschi’s theory projects that a weakened bond leads to delinquency but Agnew suggest that
the chain of events may flow in the opposite direction. In other words, kids who break the
law find that their bond to parents, schools, and society eventually becomes weak and
attenuated.
2.3.2 Social Disorganization Theory
The social disorganization theory was propounded by a group of sociologists at the
University of Chicago who assumed in their research that delinquent/criminal behavour was
as a product of social disorganization (Bohm and Haley, 2005). Bohm and Haley (2005) and
Inciardi (2007) noted that the theory was first popularized by Clifford R. Shaw and Henry D.
Mckay during the early 1920s while working as researchers for a state–supported social
service agency.
30
For the theorists, social disorganization is a condition in which the usual controls
over delinquents are largely absent, delinquents behavior is often approved by parents and
neighbours and there is little encouragement , training, or opportunity for legitimate
employment. Siegel (2007) and Inciardi (2007) link high crime rates to neighborhood
ecological characteristics. To them, youths from disadvantaged neighbourhood where
participants in a subculture in which delinquency was approved behavior and that criminality
was acquired in social and cultural settings through process of interaction.
In 1932, Shaw and Mckay established the Chicago Area Project (CAP) to coordinate
community resources such as schools, churches, labour unions and industries to solve
community problems. And also to sponsor activity programs, such as scouting, summer
camps and sports leagues, this is to develop a positive interest by individuals in their own
welfare and to unite citizens to solve their own problems.
One of the problems with the theory is the presumption that social disorganization is
a cause of delinguency/criminality. Both social disorganization and delinquency may be the
product of other things (Bohm and Haley, 2005:83).
2.3.3 Crime Control model
This model was propounded by Herbert Packer in 1968 (Gaines, Kaune and Miller,
2000; Bohm and Haley, 2005 and Inciardi, 2007). According to Bohm and Haley, the control
model emphasizes efficiency of the criminal justice to process and repress criminal conduct.
Packer is of the view that formal strategies of crime control should be developed for the
purpose of protecting the society from crime and violent criminals. According to Siegel
(2005), one sure way through which Packer suggested that this will be achieved, is by
developing formal strategies that will be geared towards detecting, repressing, prosecuting
and ultimately punishing those found to have been or suspected to have committed crime in
the society. Examples of formal strategies that were suggested to be used in detecting and
31
repressing crime include the followings: rationalization, legislation, development of
the criminal justice system, etc (Innes, 2004; Inciardi, 2007).
Crime control model has been criticized for being too repressive, too
punitive and inhuman (Westley, 1953; Commission on Civil Rights Report, 1961).
American Civil Liberties Union (1959), Becker (1999), Clemner (1950), Dambazau (2007)
and Lewis (1961) criticized the model for endangering the society instead of protecting it.
Other models of controlling crime were sought and developed because of the failure of the
crime control model to achieve the goal of protection of the society from crime and criminals.
2.3.4 Broken Windows Theory (BWT)
Broken windows theory (BWT) was popularized by James Q. Wilson and George
Kelling in an article which appeared in the March 1982 edition of ‘The Atlantic Monthly’
(Jones, 2005; Giddens, 2004; Inciardi, 2007). The theory suggests “that there is direct
connection between the appearance of disorder and actual crime” (Giddens, 2004:214).
Giddens (2004), Haralambos and Holborn (2004), Jones (2005), and Inciardi (2007) noted
that if a single broken window is allowed to go unrepaired in a neighborhood (i.e, when
residents overlook minor offences like prostitution, drunkenness, pick-pocketing etc), it sends
a message to potential offenders that neither police nor local residents are committed to the
upkeep of the community. In time, the broken windows will be joined by further signs of
disorder, vandalism, and abandoned vehicles (the minor crime will graduate to bigger crimes
like kidnapping, assassination, rape, burglary, fraud). The area will begin a gradual process of
decay and social disorder will flourish and law abiding citizens will be afraid and seek to
leave and will be replaced by deviant newcomers such as drug dealers, the homeless and
people on parole (Giddens, 2004).
Findings from a longitudinal study in Baltimore conducted by Taylor (2001)
provided further support to the theory. Skogan (1986) supported it by saying that disorder
32
reduces the extent to which the local community could exercise control over its own affairs
and crime might increase as a consequence of this.
Taylor criticized the theory by pointing out that disorder was not wholly responsible
for the changes that occurred and that other social factors had to be considered as well
(Taylor, 2001 cited by Jones, 2005). Contemporary developments have belittled the
effectiveness of the theory as some crimes are perpetrated by people who are not domiciled in
the environment of the crime. An example is cyber crime and organized crime, where victims
are not necessarily close to the criminals; in fact they are usually miles away from one
another.
2.4 Theoretical Orientation
The theoretical underpinning that will be used in this work to explain the concept of
community policing in Nigeria is the Broken Windows theory (BWT). The BWT suggests
that public disorder offences like vandalism and rowdy behaviour can create a downward
spiral of neighbourhood deterioration and fear of crime that leads to more deterioration and
more serious crimes if not checked by the community (i.e, minor offences like prostitution,
drunkenness, pick-pocketing etc can degenerate to bigger crimes like kidnapping,
assassination, rape, burglary, fraud when over looked by community and police or other law
enforcement agencies). This is because little crimes like vandalism, broken windows, and
others tend to portray the impression that nobody cares about the community and that
residents as well as the police have lost control over the community. On the other hand,
increased police presence and enforcements of informal rules of conduct and laws can make a
community seem less chaotic and safer thereby increased presence and involvement of
residents in their community and lowering crime rates.
BWT can be incorporated into the concept of community policing in the sense that
collective effort by both the police and community dwellers can help alleviate the rate of
33
crime in the community as the police see residents as partners in development and vice versa.
In line with the Yoruba adage that says “the insect that destroys the vegetable resides right
inside the vegetable,” BWT assumes that most neighbourhood crimes are more often than not
perpetrated by offenders who reside near the victims; this makes crime primarily a local
problem which can best be solved locally. BWT is very useful in explaining the synergy
between the police and the community in crime detection because with the constant contact
of the police and the citizen, both minor and major problems of crimes will be solved and it
will reduce crime and fear of crime in the community. The theory encourages the public and
the police to analyze crime, disorder and develop solutions towards criminality. When a
crime occurs, residents and police should try to find out why it happened and what can be
done to avoid it in the future rather than simply disposing of the case (Inciardi, 2007:209).
Finally, another justification for adopting BWT as the theoretical orientation,
according to Haralambos and Holborn (2007: 354) is that:
… it is crucial according to the theory to maintain that some people are born with a predisposition towards crime. The
potential for criminality is more likely to be realized if they are not properly socialized. If parents fail to teach them right from
wrong , and particularly if they fail to punish them immediately for misbehaving, those who are prone to crime become much more
likely to commit criminal acts in later life. Freed from close observation by respectable members and police, those inclined
to criminality will commit more street crime. If residents believe attempts are being made to maintain law and order, they will be more likely to report crime and discourage incivilities and anti- social behavior in public places.
34
2.5 Hypotheses of the Study
The hypotheses below have been formulated to guide the study.
1. Community policing is more likely to reduce fear of crime among citizens than crime
fighting policing style.
2. Police officers who are trained in community policing are more likely to perform
better in crime control than those who are not.
3. Community policing is likely to reduce crime more than crime fighting police in
Enugu North Local Government Area.
35
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Design of the Study
The study design appropriate for this study is a cross-sectional study. The reason for
this research design is that it focuses on collection of data from a large population at the same
point in time using a sample population (Babbie, 2007; Obasi, 1999). The researcher chose
this research design method because the samples drawn to represent the various elements of
the population generalize the population of the study.
3.2 Area of Study
The area of this study is Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State
Nigeria which is also the seat of the state administration. Enugu state, like the new Anambra
state was created out of the old Anambra State in the year 1991 by the military Head of State,
Gen. Ibrahim, Badamasi Babangida, and since then Enugu North as a local government has
been in existence till date. Enugu North Local Government is one of the 17 Local
Governments in the state, and one of the 774 Local Government councils in Nigeria (Federal
Government of Nigeria, 1999).
Before the coming of the British to mine coal, the local government use to be
dominated by farmers and craftsmen. But ever since the advent of the white and creation of
Enugu state, peoples of all walks of life, different ethnic and religious backgrounds have been
attracted to the city. The economy of the local government now has been diversified to
include large scale trading, small scale industry and commerce. Residents of Enugu North
Local Government Area are more of civil servants and public servants as a result of the
presence of both state and federal ministries in the area. Some of the residents are artisans
36
and traders as a result of the presence of Ogbete, Artisan and New markets, all in the local
government.
Because of the residents in the Local Government, the Local Government is sub-
divided into three quarters which include: Independence layout quarters which is inhabited by
high Government officials and some wealthy citizens, Ogui quarters are inhabited by
middle/working class citizens and Coal Camp quarters inhabited more by traders and low
class citizens. Majority of the residents of Enugu North Local Government are non indigenes.
Because it is the heart of the State Capital, it attracts the attention of the State Government in
the provision of infrastructure like roads, electricity, pipe borne water, among others.
Enugu North Local Government Area has five (5) police divisional headquarters and
seventy three (73) neighbourhood watch groups (Ministry of Human Capital Development
and Poverty Reduction, 2011). Enugu North seems to be the favorite for the study as a result
of the presence of both state and federal ministries, big hotels, guest houses and markets that
generate so much revenue to the state. Residents and outsiders find the area attractive to visit
and also to live in. This influx of people has increased the population, as well as crime rate,
due largely to unemployment and underemployment.
3.3 Population of the Study
The population of Enugu state according to NPC (2006) is 3,257,298 of which
1,624,202 are males while 1,633,096 are for females. Out of the total population of Enugu
state, 244,852 is the total population of Enugu North local Government Area the study area
(NPC, 2006). Out of the number, 49% are males while 51% are females. The population to be
studied are the adult residents who are 18 and above in the local government area that can
read and write or at least respond to the study’s questionnaire. The essence of adopting this
set of people for the study is because they are the people assumed to have come to the age of
37
criminal responsibility in Nigeria and are also assumed to have observed and understood the
community policing as a crime control strategy used in controlling crime, as well as the
reason why the strategy has or has not succeeded in controlling crime in this Local
Government Area.
3.4 Sample Size
The sample size was selected from the target population of the study using
the simple random samples without replacement formula. The sample size shall be
statistically determined using the formula below:
n= Z2PQ/B2
Where n= sample size
Z= Z score determined for a specific confidence level as desired by the researcher is
95% confidence level, and is 1.96 in Z test table.
Q= the compliment of P (Proportion) that is 1-P = 47.5%
B= Allowable error or accuracy level (5.0%).
P= the proportion of the adult population who have correct knowledge about
community policing as crime reduction strategy. This was given by FMOH (2010) sentinel
survey as 52.5%.
So applying the formula thus becomes:
n= 1.962 (52.5)(47.5)/ ( 0.04)2
n= 3.8416 (0.2494) /0.0016
n= 0.9581 /0.0016
n= 598.8
n=600 (approx.)
38
Thus a sample size of 600 respondents will be selected from the residents of Enugu North
Local Government Area aged between 18 and above years. As a result of the sample size for
adult males and females residents of Enugu North Local Government Area aged 18 and
above which is 49 and 51 percentages respectively will be selected from the sample size
(600) to represent adult male and female residents of the Local Government Area aged 18
and above for study questionnaire.
3.5 Sampling Technique
The sampling technique adopted for this study is a combination of cluster, simple
random and purposively sampling technique. Enugu North Local Government is divided into
three quotas. These are: Independence layout, Ogui layout and Coal Camp. The researcher
will first segregate the sample along gender lines to give each gender a good opportunity of
being part of the sample.
The adult males will comprise 49% of the sample while adult females will constitute
51% of the sample:
49/100 * 600/1 = 294 adult males
51/100 * 600/1 = 306 adult females
The proportional representation of the sample is based on the number of each gender
in the population census of 2006 for Enugu North (121,625 (49%) are males while 123,227
(51%) are females). To derive the figure for each gender in the respective three quotas, the
total figure for male and female is divided by the number of quotas.
Thus: Adult males = 294/3 = 98
Adult females = 306/3 = 102.
39
Therefore, each of the three quotas would have 200 (98 + 102) respondents which will
gives a total of 600 respondents.
The respondents for In-depth Interview will be purposively selected according to the
relevance and importance of the positions they occupy. This will be made up of Police Public
Relations Officer of Enugu state, a key police officer of community policing at state
command, CPS Divisional Police Officer of Enugu North as a result that CPS is the mother
police divisional headquarters of the other four, two each neighbourhood watch leaders in the
three quotas made up Enugu North and the traditional ruler (Igwe) of Ogui Urban. This given
a total seven (10) individuals for the IDI.
3.6 Instruments for Data Collection
The two major survey instruments to be used here for data collection are:
Questionnaires and Indepth-interviews. The results of the questionnaire will be used to
answer the research questions and also to test relevant hypotheses. The questionnaire will
contain structured/close-ended and unstructured/open-ended questions. It will have two
sections, section A will contain the socio-demographic information, while section B will
contain questions and views of respondents on the perception of people on community
policing program as effective crime reduction strategy.
Indepth-interview is the second most important instruments that will be used to
compliment data collected from the questionnaire for proper understanding of the study. The
interview guide contains structured questions on community policing, which will be
administered on the Police Public Relations Officer of Enugu state, a key police officer of
community policing at state command, CPS Divisional Police Officer of Enugu North as a
result that CPS is the mother police divisional headquarters of the other four, two each
40
neighbourhood watch leaders in the three quarters that made up Enugu North and Igwe of
Ogui Urban in the local government for IDI.
3.7 Administration of Instrument
To facilitate the data collection process, the researcher recruited and trained two
graduates who are residents in the area of study to help him in the administration and
collection of the questionnaire. The essence of selecting from this class of people is to enable
the researcher select people who are knowledgeable, familiar with the environment and can
interpret the questions to the respondents in case he/she is not literate to read the
questionnaire. The researcher will organize a 2-day training session on questionnaires
administration for the research assistants and properly brief them on the objectives of the
study. The questionnaires will be administered every day of the week by researcher with the
help of the research assistants to the respondents, by visiting them at their homes and offices
since most of the residents are not seen often as a result of the nature of the area of study. The
essence of administering them this way is to ensure good rapport, guidance and interpretation
as well as explaining and making the questionnaire items clear to the respondents in order
that they will be able to respond well to the Questionnaire instruments. The Questionnaire
will either be collected immediately, later in the day or early the next day.
For the interviews, the researcher notified and booked appointment with the
personnel selected for the interview before going to their offices for the interview. The
researcher conducted the interviews with the aid of the research assistants and tape record and
later transcribe it, while the researcher and research assistants take note.
41
3.8 Method of Data Analysis
The data collected through questionnaire will be analyzed using Statistical Package
for Social Science (SPSS). In doing this, frequency tables, percentages etc will be used to
code analyze data from the questionnaire of the study. The data obtained through indepth-
�2 will be used to test the hypotheses.
CHAPTER FOUR:
42
DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
This chapter presents how the data collected through questionnaire, hypotheses and
indepth interview were structured, organized and analyzed in order to get the desired result
on the people’s perception of community policing as effective strategy for crime reduction in
Enugu North. Questionnaires were analysed with SPSS while chi-square was used to test the
hypotheses.
Out of 600 questionnaires distributed by the researcher to the residents of Enugu
North Local Government Area, 578 were filled or completed and returned. Frequency
percentages table was used to present and analyse the data in each of the tables to ascertain
the percentage and below each of the table, the researcher analysed what is in the table. After
that, IDI was content analyzed.
4.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
The socio-demographic characteristics are given to provide some background
information of the respondents like sex, age, educational qualification, occupation, marital
status, and religious affiliation of the respondents.
4.1.1 Sex
The reason for the sex of the respondents is to have definite number of the gender that
responded to the questionnaire
Table 4.1.I: Frequency Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Sex
Sex Frequency Percent
Male 296 51.2
Female 282 48.8
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
43
Above indicates that out of 578 of respondents, male constituted 51.2% of the
population while female constituted 48.8%. That is to say that male constituted more of the
questionnaires returned than the females as at the time of questionnaire collections.
4.1.2 Age
The age of the respondents range from 18-48 and above with 10 years interval from
18-27, 28-37, 38-47 and 48 and above in order to determine the age bracket of the
respondents and not to include people below 18 years.
Table 4.1.2: Frequency Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Age
Age Intervals Frequency Percent
18-27years 392 67.8
28-37years 132 22.8
38-47years 32 5.5
48 and above 22 3.8
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
From the table above, the highest number of respondents on age of the respondent fall
on 18-27years of the age bracket with 67.8%, 28-37year with 22.8% is the next, followed by
38-47years with 5.5%, while the least is 48years and above with 3.8%. The reason why the
respondents that fall within the age bracket of 18-27 years are more in number is that many of
them are under graduates, graduates who are accessible and could respond to the
questionnaire without much assistance.
4.1.3 Education qualification
Education qualification of the respondents is important in other to ascertain the level
of education of the respondents. Table iii below stated the frequency percentage distribution
of the respondents.
44
Table 4.1.3: Frequency Percentage Distribution of Respondents by Educational
qualification
Education qualification Frequency Percent
No formal education 14 2.4
Completed primary education 44 7.6
Completed post-primary education 160 27.7
Completed higher education 360 62.3
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
The above table is the table for education attainment of the respondent residents of
Enugu North Local Government Area. The least from the table is 2.4% which is the number
of the respondents with no formal education. Next on the table of educational qualification is
the respondents who completed primary education, make up of 7.6% of the total respondents,
followed by those who have completed their post-primary education with 27.7% and finally,
the respondents who have completed their higher education 62.3% which is the highest in the
table. The reason why the respondents with higher education are more in number is as a result
of the nature of the area which is the seat of administration of the state that attracts civil
servants and graduates who are in search of white collar jobs.
4.1.4 Occupation
Respondents occupation is shown on table iv below to ascertain the percentage level.
Table 4.1.4: Frequency Distribution 0f Respondents by Occupation
Occupation Frequency Percent
Business 62 10.7
Teaching 40 6.9
Civil service 100 17.3
Others specify (students,copers and unemployment)
376 65.1
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
45
From the occupation table of respondents above, the last option attracts more number
of respondents with 65.1% to the extent that the occupations of those that fall into it are
enormous. They include, graduates applicants and corps members. The occupation bracket is
of the civil servants came second with 17.3% due to the facts a result that the local
government is the center of state administration. Business and teaching occupation brackets
came third and fourth respectively with 10.7% and 6.9%.
4.1.5 Marital Status
The marital status of the respondents is stated in the table below to bring out the
frequency percentage distribution to includes: single, married, divorced and widowed.
Table 4.1.5: Frequency Distribution 0f Marital Status
Marital status Frequency Percent
Single 450 77.9
Married 112 19.4
Divorced 9 1.6
Widowed 7 1.2
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
From the respondents response as highlighted in the table, it is obvious that the
highest proportion of the respondents 77.9% is from those who are single, followed by those
who are married with 19.4%. Those that are divorced, ranked third in the table with 1.6%
while the widowed are fourth and of course the least with 1.2%.
4.1.6 Religious Affiliation
Religious affiliation portrays three major religions outside African Traditional
Religion, Christianity and Islamic Religion, and fourth one which is other religions .
46
Table 4.1.6: Frequency Distribution 0f Religious Affiliation
Religious Affiliation Frequency Percent
African Traditional Religion 16 2.8
Christianity 528 91.3
Islamic Religion 22 3.8
Others 12 2.1
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
The religious affiliation of respondents on the table shows that Christianity dominated
all other religious group with 91.3% of the total population of 100%. Islamic religion came
second on the table with 3.8% followed by African Traditional Religion with 2.8%, and while
on the bottom of the table is other religious groups, though not specified but which attracts
2.1%. The area of study is therefore basically a Christian community.
4.2 Substantive Issues of the Research on People’s Perception on Community Policing
Program as Effective Crime Reduction Strategy.
This section looks at the respondents perception on police, crime, crime rate and
community policing in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu Nigeria.
4.2.1. Knowledge about incidence of crime in Enugu North Local Government
The study will be of no use if there is no incidence of crime in the area. The incidence
of crime in the area will help to ascertain whether there is need to look at community policing
as a strategy to reduce crime or not. Table vii states frequency percentage of people’s
knowledge about crime.
47
Table 4.2.1: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on incidence of crime in Enugu
north.
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Yes 384 66.4
No 194 33.6
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
Majority of the respondents in the area of study responded that they have heard about
crime incidence in the area. From the table above, 66.4% of the resident said that they have
heard about crime incidence while 33.6% of the residence said that they have never heard
about crime incidence in the area. So one can say that majority of the residents are aware of
crime incidence in the local government.
4.2.2 Knowledge on ever been a victim of crime
The table 4.2.2 below presents the frequency percentage data of respondents that have
been victim of criminal act.
Table 4.2.2: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on victim of crime.
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Yes 88 15.2
No 490 84.8
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
From the table of crime victim above, 15.2% which is less than 1/7 of the resident of
the local government said that they have been victims of criminals, while 6/7, that is, 84.8%
of the respondents said they have never been victims of crime. One can say that, although the
majority of the residents are aware of crime incidence in the local government according to
table 4.2.2 but that the number that have fallen victims are less than those who have not.
48
4.2.3 Knowledge on how often the residents heard of crime
The researcher want to know how many time(s) within a specific time the residents or
respondents of the local government hear about crime.
Table 4.2.3: Percentage Distribution on how often one have heard crime in his area.
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Daily 90 15.6
Once a week 56 9.7
Once a month 82 14.2
Scarcely (once in a while) 350 60.6
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
Table 4.2.3 is on how often the respondents have heard of crime in the area. The
information from the respondents shows that 60.6% scarcely hear about crime or incidence of
crime in the area. In other words, they hear about crime once in a while. 15.6% of the
respondents said that they hear of crime or incidence of crime on a daily basis, followed by
14.2% who say they hear of crime or incidence of crime on monthly basis, while 9.7% of the
respondents are of the opinion that they hear of crime in the area on a weekly basis hear. The
data gathered from table 4.2.3, which states that 15.2% have been a victim of crime bear
witness to the table 4.2.3 which also said that 15.6% hear about crime incidence on daily
basis, that is to say that the same number of residents who hear about crime may likely be the
victims of crime.
4.2.4 Idea of kind of crime rampant in the Local Government
The desire to ascertain the kind of crime that is committed more often in the area of
study is stated with frequency percentage in the table below
49
Table 4.2.4: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on the kind of crime that is
rampant in the local government.
Respondents response on kinds of crime Frequency Percent
Murder 34 5.9
Smuggling 60 10.4
Theft 266 46.0
Armed robbery 102 17.6
Kidnapping 36 6.2
Please specify others 80 13.8
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
Theft and other stealing ranked highest in the respondents table 4.2.4 above with
46.0% proportion, followed by armed robbery with 17.6% of the total respondents. Other
crimes not stated ranked third with 13.8% while smuggling ranked fourth in the table
with10.4% followed by kidnapping with 6.2% and finally, murder, which ranked sixth with
5.9%. According to crime statistics of Enugu state below table 4.2.5, theft and other stealing
ranked highest both in Enugu state as a whole and in Enugu North Local Government Area in
particular. From the respondents information, it is obvious that theft and other stealing are
committed more in the local government and continue to increase on yearly bases than other
crimes in Enugu North.
50
Table 4.2.5: Crime Statistics of 2010 To 2011 of Enugu North L G A of Enugu State
Types of Crime 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Total
Armed Robbery 6 8 9 15 16 54
Murder 5 6 7 16 18 52
Rape 3 4 2 6 3 18
OBT 10 12 9 25 27 83
Grievous Harm and
Wounding
12 9 7 14 16 58
Forgery 3 2 4 5 3 17
Burglary 8 10 9 21 23 71
House Breaking 10 11 8 19 24 72
Theft and other
stealing
24 26 28 46 48 172
Fraud 4 3 2 5 3 17
Arson - 1 - 1 1 3
Kidnapping - 1 - 2 5 8
Child trafficking 1 - 1 2 3 7
Store breaking 9 7 6 14 16 52
Grand Total 95 100 92 191 206 684
Source: Enugu state Police Command.
4.2.6 Valuation of crime rate In Enugu North
It is necessary to ascertain the rate at which crime is committed in the area, as a means
to determine whether or not community policing is working in terms of crime reduction.
Table 4.2.6: Percentage Distribution of Respondents assessment of crime rate in Enugu
North L.G.
Respondents response on crime rate Frequency Percent
High 108 18.7
Low 224 38.8
Stable 58 10.0
No. idea 188 32.5
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
51
From the above table, 32.5% of the respondents could not assess crime rate in the
area. Whereas 38.8% are of the view that crime rate is low, 18.7% area of the opinion that the
rate of crime occurrence is high, while 10.0% maintained that crime rate is stable.
4.2.7 Knowledge of police presence in the area of study
The questionnaire 4.2.7 above presents the perception of the respondents on the
availability of the police in their area.
Table 4.2.7: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on how they often see the police in
the area of study
Respondents response on police presence Frequency Percent
Daily 278 48.0
Once a week 98 17.0
Once a month 24 4.2
Scarcely (once in a while) 178 30.8
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
The data on table 4.2.7 above shows that 48.1% of the respondents say they see police
in the area daily, 30.8% said scarcely (once in a while), 17.0% said once a week, while 4.2%
said once a month.
4.2.8 Assessment of the rate and efforts of the police to dictate and control crime in your
area
Focus on the frequency percentage table below is on the efforts of the police to dictate
and control crime.
52
Table 4.2.8: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on how the residents rate the
efforts of the police to dictate and control crime in the area.
Respondents response on police effort Frequency Percent
Encouraging 221 38.2
Discouraging 261 45.2
Don't know 96 16.6
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
Information available in the table above shows that while the highest number of the
respondents that is 45.2% are encouraged, while 38.2% are not encouraged. On the other
hand, 16.6% of the respondents could not assess or rate the ability of the police to dictate and
control crime. Their response is that they do not know.
4.2.9 Assessment on police collaboration with the residents of the community in crime
reduction
Here, it is the intention of the researcher to ascertain from the respondents, whether or
not the police collaborates with the residents of Enugu North Local Government in crime
reduction.
Table 4.2.9: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on whether the police collaborates
with residents of the community in crime reduction
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Yes 213 36.9
No 147 25.4
No idea 218 37.7
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
Table 4.2.9 above shows that whereas 36.9% of the 578 respondents have the
conviction that the police collaborates with the residents of Enugu North in crime reduction,
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25.4% of the residents believe that there is no collaboration. The rest of the respondents
however, that is 37.7% do not have any idea as to whether there is collaboration or not.
4.2.10 Knowledge of community policing
The table below is the response of the respondents to the question as to whether or
not they have heard about community policing.
Table 4.2.10: Percentage Distribution of Respondents who have heard of community
policing
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Yes 317 54.8
No 127 22.0
No idea 134 23.2
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
From the above table XV, it is obvious that the highest proportion of the respondents,
that is 54.8%, which is more than half of the total respondents says that they have heard about
community policing, while 22.0% say they have not. On the other hand, 23.2% claim that
they have no idea.
4.2.11 Assessment of the performance of the community trained police men in crime
Control
The perception of the residents on the performance of community trained police men
in crime control is highlighted below in table 4.2.11.
54
Table 4.2.11: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on the assessment of the
performance of the community trained police men in crime control.
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Encouraging 253 43.8
Discouraging 139 24.0
Don't know 186 32.2
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
The majority of the respondents in the above table, precisely 43.8% agree that the
performance of the community trained police men is encouraging, while 24.0% disagree. For
the latter, their performance is discouraging. The remaining 32.2% of the respondents do not
have any opinion. Their response is that they do not know. They could not distinguish
between the performance of the community trained police men from that of the other police
men, and therefore could not assess their performance.
4.2.12 Relationship assessment between the police and other security agencies in the
Area
The table below shows the respondents assessment on the relationship of the police
and other security agencies in the local government.
Table 4.2.12: Percentage Distribution of Respondents relationship assessment rate of
the police and other security agencies in the area
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Cordial 319 55.2
Not cordial 177 30.6
Antagonistic 82 14.2
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
More than half of the respondents in the above table, precisely, 55.2% testify that the
relationship between the police and other security agencies in their area is cordial while
55
30.6% have a contrary view. The relationship is not cordial, according to them. 14.2% hold
the opinion that the relationship is antagonistic. According to them, the relationship is that of
cat and dog. Of truth, one may say here that the relationship between the police and other
security agencies, going by the responses, is relatively cordial.
4.2.13 Assessment of people’s cordial relationship with the police in the local
government
In the table of frequency percentage below, respondents were asked to assess their
relationship with the police.
Table 4.2.13: Percentage Distribution of Respondents relationship with the police in
their Local Government
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Excellent 90 15.6
Fair 264 45.7
Tough 96 16.6
I don't know 128 22.1
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
Out of 578 respondents, 15.6% indicate that their relationship with the police is
excellent, 16.6% maintain that their relationship with the police is tough, 45.7% is of the
view that the relationship is fair, while 128(22.1%) do not have any opinion on this. The
reason may be as a result of police dynamic nature; today they are happy discharging their
duties, tomorrow they are nonchalant and brutal. Nearly half of the respondents testify that
their relationship with the police is a fair one.
4.2.14 Opinion on people’s support for public partnership with the police for crime
control
The focus here is to ascertain the number of people who are in support of community
partnership with police in crime control.
56
Table 4.2.14: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on people’s support of public
partnership with the police in crime control
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Yes 440 76.1
No 138 23.9
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
From table xix above, 76.1% are strongly in support of public partnership with the
police in crime control while the remaining 23.9% are against public partnership with the
police.
4.2.15 Respondents reason(s) for saying yes to question 4.2.14
Table xx below is meant to elicit response from the respondents on the reason(s) why
they favour/support community policing.
Table 4.2.15: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on reason(s) for saying yes
Reasons for community policing Frequency Percent
Community policing helps both the police and public to have easy access to information on the activities of criminals.
148 25.60%
Community policing reduces the rate of crime as a result of joint partnership of the police and the public.
292 50.52%
No suggestion 138 23.88%
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
More than half of the respondents, specifically 50.52% think that community policing
reduce crime rate, 25.60% say that community policing promote information about crime or
criminal activities while 23.88% who are the same people who do not support community
policing, do not have any suggestion in this respect.
57
4.2.16 Assessment of the rate of relationship of the police and members of the local
government since the introduction of community policing
The table below highlights the respondents assessment on people’s relationship with
the police in the introduction of community policing in the area.
Table 4.2.16: Percentage Distribution of Respondents relationship assessment rate of
the police and members of society
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Cordial 223 38.6
Antagonistic 73 12.6
No idea 282 48.8
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire
A total of 48.8% of the respondents claim that they have no idea regarding the
relationship of the police and the residents of the Local Government since the introduction of
community policing. 38.6% of the respondents believe that the relationship of the police and
the residents in the said Local Government is cordial, while 12.6% say the relationship is
antagonistic.
4.2.17 Assessment on how residents rate the fear of crime now that the police and
community are partners
After the assessment of respondents/peoples relationship with the police, it is
important to ascertain the rate at which the people fear crime or criminality since the
inception of community policing which table 4.2.17 below showcases.
58
Table 4.2.17 Percentage Distribution of Respondents on how residents rate the fear of
crime
Respondents response Frequency Percent
High 90 15.6
Stable 209 36.2
Low 279 48.3
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
The frequency distribution table 4.2.17 above shows the response of the respondents on the
rate of fear of crime now that the police and the community are partners. From the table, it is
clear that whereas 48.3% of the total population bear witness that the rate at which the people
fear crime or criminality in Enugu North is low, 36.2% are of the view that the rate is stable,
while the remaining 15.6% maintains that the fear of crime is still high even after the
introduction of community policing.
4.2.18 Opinion on support for police/public partnership in Enugu North Local
Government Area
The respondents opinion, which is either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or even ‘I don’t know’ on the
support of the strategy for effective crime reduction is highlighted in table 4.2.18 below.
Table 4.2.18: Percentage Distribution of Respondents on peoples support for
police/public partnership
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Yes 443 76.6
No 93 16.1
Don't know 42 7.3
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
Overwhelming population of the respondents, made up of 76.6% out of the 578
respondents say they support police/public partnership in Enugu North. On the contrary,
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16.1% say no to community policing, while 7.3% do not know whether police/public
partnership should be supported.
4.2.19 People’s perception on community policing in Enugu North
Here, the respondents on required to rate their general perception of community
policing in Enugu North.
Table 4.2.19: Percentage Distribution of Respondents People’s perception on
community policing
Respondents response Frequency Percent
Very good 340 58.8
Discouraging 82 14.2
Should be Improved 156 27.0
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
From the frequency distribution table on the perception of the residents of Enugu
North on community policing above, more than half of the residents, specifically, 58.8%
welcome the strategy as a good one that should stay. Also 27.0% of the respondents welcome
it but say it should be improved upon, while 14.2% of the total respondents say that
community policing is discouraging.
4.2.20 Suggestion of some other strategy that could enhance crime free society
Table 4.2.20 below contains the respondents suggestions on other strategy that can
reduce crime in the local government.
60
Table 4.2.20: Percentage Distribution of Respondents other strategy that could enhance
crime free society
Respondents response other strategies Frequency Percent
Employment 462 79.93%
Skill acquisition 67 11.59
Involve the military 25 4.33%
No suggestion 24 4.15
Total 578 100.0
Source: Questionnaire data
From the table above, 79.93% of the respondents suggest that employment would be a
wonderful strategy that could reduce crime. It is the view of 11.59% of the respondents that
skill acquisition is a strategy that is capable of reducing crime in the area. Whereas 4.33% of
the respondents are of the opinion that the military should be involved as a strategy to
fight/control crime, 4.15% made no suggestion. That means that they may be satisfied with
community policing. From the table above, there is no doubt that unemployment has
contributed to the increase in crime in Enugu North. It then follows that employment
opportunity will go a long way in reducing crime, not only in Enugu North, but also
throughout the whole nation.
4.3 Test for Hypotheses
In this study, three hypotheses guiding the study were duly tested to establish if truly
there is a significant relationship between the dependent variables with the independent
variables on the people’s perception of community policing as effective strategy for crime
reduction to the people of Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu state Nigeria.
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4.3.1 Hypothesis I
1. Community policing is more likely to reduce fear of crime among citizens than crime
fighting policing style.
The researcher intends to find out if there is any relationship between community
policing and the fear of crime with variable 4.2.17/questionnaire 22 which is residents rate of
fear of crime now that the police and community are partner is used.
Table 4.3.1: Chi-Square Test Distribution on the fear of crime now the police and
community are partners
�2 = 94.779, df=2, P<0.05
Since the calculated value of chi square is 94.779 is greater than tabulated chi square
at 0.05 level of significant (5.99). This implies that community policing reduces fear of crime
than crime fighting policing. This could be seen in table 4.2.17. Also in order to avoid type
one error which is the error that will occur when we say there is a relationship when there is
none, we shall use the asymptotic significance. The decision rule here is that when the value
of the asymptotic significance also called the P value is less than the level of significance, it
shows that it is significant, hence there is a relationship. Here, the work of this P value is to
ascertain the chances of making type one error, the P value must be less than the level of
significance which shows the maximum error to be tolerated in the hypothesis. Since, our P
value (0.000) is less than 0.05 level of significance, therefore, there is a relationship, hence
there is no type one error and we conclude that community policing reduces fear of crime
than crime fighting policing.
Response Observed N Expected N Residual Chi-Square
High 90 192.7 -102.7
Stable 209 192.7 16.3 94.779
Low 279 192.7 86.3
Total 578
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Test of Hypotheses II
2. Police officers who are trained in community policing are more likely to perform better in
crime control than those who are not. From the above hypotheses, item 16 of the
questionnaire which states the performance rate of the community trained police men in
�2 table.
Table 4.3.2: Chi-Square Test Distribution on the assessment of Police officers who are
trained in community policing and those who are not trained in the line
Response Observed N Expected N Residual Chi-Square
Encouraging 253 192.7 60.3 34.073a
Discouraging 139 192.7 -53.7
Dont know 186 192.7 -6.7
Total 578
�2=34.073, df= 2, P<0.05
The calculated value of chi square is 34.073 and is greater than tabulated chi square
at 0.05 level of significant (5.99). Also in order to avoid type one error, which we have
explained in the first hypothesis, we shall use the asymptotic significance. Therefore, since,
our P value (0.000) is less than 0.05 level of significance, therefore, there is a relationship,
hence there is no type one error and we conclude that police officers who are trained in
community policing are more likely to perform better in crime control than those who are not.
See table xvi for more understanding.
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4.3.3 Hypothesis 3
Community policing is likely to reduce crime more than crime fighting police in Enugu North
Local Government Area. Item 20 of the questionnaire which is the reason they support
�2 table.
Table 4.3.3: Chi-Square Test Distribution of Reason(s) for support of community
policing
Response Observed N Expected N Residual Chi-Square
Community policing helps both the police
and the public to have easy access to
information on the activities of criminals
148 192.7 34.073a 77.080a
Commmunity policing reduces the rate of
crime as a result of joint partnership of the
police and the public
292 192.7 99.3
No response 138 192.7 -54.7
Total 578
�2=77.080, df= 2, P<0.05
Chi square value is 77.080 and greater than tabulated chi square at 0.05 level of
significant (5.99). This shows that community policing is likely to reduce crime more than
crime fighting police in Enugu North Local Government Area. This could be seen in table xx.
Also in order to avoid type one error, which we have explained in the first hypothesis, we
shall again use the asymptotic significance. Therefore, since, our P value (0.000) is less than
64
0.05 level of significance, therefore, there is a relationship, hence there is no type one error
and we conclude that community policing is likely to reduce crime more than crime fighting
police in Enugu North Local Government Area. Therefore, there is a significant relationship
between community policing and crime rate as a result of peoples responds in questionnaire
4.2.15 of this work.
4.4 Discussion of findings
A total of three Police Officers, six Neighbourhood Watch leaders and the Traditional
Rulers from the Enugu North Local Government Area were interviewed on issue of crime
and community policing.
4.4.1The awareness of crime incident in Enugu North
All the interview respondents, except the traditional ruler (Igwe) of Ogui Urban
expressed yes to the awareness of crime incidents in Enugu North. The traditional ruler said,
‘I am not aware of crime committal/perpetration in the Enugu North, Enugu North is
peaceful’.
All other respondents outside the trainer and adviser of community policing project at
police command said that they have never been a victims of crime. The trainer and adviser of
community policing project said ‘I have been a victim of crime but not in Enugu North’.
The traditional rule of Ogui Urban is the only one among the interviewees, who said
that ‘crime rate in the local government is only known by the police who have the State/Local
government crime statistics’. Some of the respondents (police officers and the leaders of the
neighbourhood watch) were of the view that prior to the introduction of community policing,
the rate of crime was high, but that after the introduction, crime rate reduced drastically while
the remaining respondents stated categorically that crime rate is low.
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4.4.2 Security measure(s) put in place to combat crime in the area
The whole of the respondents noted that there are security measures put in place to
combat and fight crime in the area.
They enumerated many of these measures. The measures according to the leaders of
the Neighbourhood Watch include: the formation and inauguration of the Neighbourhood
Watch, giving of information to the Police and the security outfit and having informants.
According to the traditional ruler Ogui Urban, ‘the Neighbourhood Watch is the only
measure adopted in my area to fight and combat crime’. 0n their part, the trainer and adviser
on community policing and the other two Police Officers summarized the measures to
include: proactive measure which in a nutshell is prevention of crime in order that it does not
take place, working with information obtained from the public/people. Other measures
according include regular patrol of major roads, receiving of information from well meaning
residents, sensitization workshop with other security agencies and member of the society for
the need to work together and quick response to those in danger.
On the way(s) the respondents and their officers cooperate with other security
agencies in the fight to control crime, the traditional ruler, two of the police officers and
Neighbourhood Watch Leaders said that they cooperate by constant meeting with all other
security agencies within the area to discuss on how best to control crime in the area and the
need to be their brothers keeper in the discharge of their duties. The trainer and adviser of
community policing project said, ‘that my office collaborates both with other security
agencies and the people by holding meetings with them either at the town halls, village
square or market square’. Another approach according to him is by allowing the communities
to prioritise the nature of crime in their communities.
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4.4.3 Knowledge about community policing
The majority of the respondents especially the leaders of the Neighbourhood Watch
noted that, ‘my knowledge of community policing came with the establishment of the
Neighbourhood Watch’. It was during the meeting that preceeded the constitution and
inauguration of the security outfit that they were briefed and enlightened regarding
community policing which in effect is the collaboration of the police and members in order to
fight and reduce crime. In other words, it is a joint partnership of the Police and the public in
order to reduce crime. In this response, the traditional ruler said that community policing is
all encompassing, and which to him, ‘community policing is the process of involving
everybody in the fight against crime. The Police Officers on their part said it was as a result
of inability of the Police alone to police the society that brought community policing. To
them, community policing is the collaboration of the police and the community members to
fight crime or criminal activities.
On what gave rise to community policing, both the traditional ruler and the leaders of
the Neighbourhood Watch said it was the inability of the police to combat crime due to their
small number (population) which made it difficult for them to guard and control the entire
country in general and Enugu North in particular. The police officers, especially the trainer
and adviser on community policing project noted that, ‘community policing came because of
the need to democratize Police so that the citizen would have access to, and be able to
recognize the police as friends and partners in the war against crime and not as enemies as it
used to be during the past military era when they used words like if you move, I move you
and when they saw the citizens as bloody civilians who could be treated as they liked’. All
these made the people to see the police as their perpetual enemies, there by the public do not
want to have anything to do with them (the police). Community Policing came in to rebuild
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the image of the police so that members of the public would work with them for a safer
society.
The performance of Community Policing according to all the interviewees is
encouraging according but needs to b e improved upon.
4.4.4 The assessment of community policing in Enugu North
The Police Officers, the Igwe and Neighbourhood Watch leaders in Enugu North, in
one accord noted that before the introduction of community policing, the police/public
relationship was characterized by hatred and antagonism. The public, according to the Police
Public Relation Officer who said that ‘the public saw the Police as corrupt, idiots, animals,
traitors etc and never wanted to have anything to do with them the police’.
Crime rate according to all the respondents/interviewees, has reduced to a minimum
level since the inception of community policing.
All the Neighbourhood Watch leaders as well as the Igwe of Ogui Urban welcomed
the strategy as they could not identify any other strategy that would have enhanced crime
reduction in Enugu North. On their part, the Police Offices said that ‘we (the police) are
comfortable with community policing for now, but that since the society is dynamic and
therefore, other strategies may likely be introduced in the future that may be better than
community policing in crime reduction’.
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4.4.5 Challenges facing security agencies in Enugu North
According to Police Officers interviewed, challenges facing the police with respect to
for effective community policing include: insufficient resources/manpower which includes,
modern crime fighting equipment like communication system, modern patrol van, modern
weapons, and employment of qualified and passion-driven staff. The Igwe on his side said
that, ‘I do not have any security challenge in Ogui Urban’. While the Neighbourhood Watch
leaders identified that major challenges facing them is finance, patrol van, crime fighting
equipments like guns, torch light, rain coat and shoes to keep the body warm during cold
weather.
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CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
Community policing is a collaborative effort between the police and the members of
the public to identify the problems of crime and disorder and to develop solutions from
within the community in crime reduction. The study, ‘People’s perception of Community
Policing as an effective strategy for crime reduction in Enugu North Local Government
Area,’ is a study that looked at the way(s) people/residents of Enugu North see or feel about
community policing as against the former crime fighting policing we used to have before the
introduction of community policing on 27th April 2004. The major concern of the researcher
was to ascertain from the residents of the area if truly community policing is an effective
strategy for crime control, and if truly community policing have succeeded in reducing crime
rate in the area since inception.
The researcher adopted three hypotheses. Six hundred (600) respondents aged
eighteen years and above were selected through simple random sampling without
replacement formula from target population of 244,852 of the residents of Enugu North Local
Government Area to respond to twenty five (25) questions and ten (10) respondents for in-
depth interview were purposively selected. Frequency percentages tables were used to code
data from the questionnaire of the study, indepth-interview was content analyzed to
compliment quantitative data of the study, while Chi-Square (x2) was used to test the
hypotheses.
5.2 Findings
According to crime statistics of Enugu state, theft ranked highest both in Enugu state
as a whole and in Enugu North Local Government Area in particular. Table 4.2.4 supported
70
the crime figure of Enugu North with the view that theft is common among the residents of
the local government.
From the data in table 4.2.10, it was revealed that the residents of Enugu North are
aware of community policing while table 4.2.9 indicated that very many of the residents have
no idea as whether there is collaboration or not among the police and members of the public
in crime fighting/control.
The data in table 4.2.7 indicated that majority of the residents of Enugu North see the
police on daily bases.
From table 4.2.7, although majority saw the police on daily bases, table 4.2.8
indicated that the residents are not encouraged on the police ability to dictate and control
crime or criminality.
Findings from table 4.2.12 and interviews analysis 4.4.2 revealed to us that the
relationship between Nigerian Police and other security agencies is cordial.
The residents of Enugu North Local Government Area are strongly in support of
community policing as you can see in table 4.2.14.
From the findings in table 4.2.19, community policing is a welcome development and
should stay.
Findings in table 4.2.17 revealed that the fear of crime has reduced since the
introduction of community policing.
Findings from the interviews analysis revealed the challenges faced by the security
agencies (police and other security agencies) to live up to the standard for effective
community policing. Among such challenges include: recruitment of some unqualified
71
personnel, insufficient crime fighting equipment/patrol vehicles, inadequate remuneration of
the security personnel, and lack of trust of information to the security agencies by the
residents.
Table 4.2.20 on its part shows that the employment strategy is the best way to reduce
criminality in the area of study.
Finally, all hypotheses tested supported the study.
5.3 Limitation and Suggestions for Further Study
In the course of the study, the researcher encountered a lot of problems or had some
difficulties.
One of such problems is that so persons who could have facilitated the filling of my
questionnaire items on time refused, and even discouraged others simply because they saw
the name ‘Police’ in the letter. They gave it back to me telling me that they had nothing to do
with Police officers, and by so doing prolonged the days of distribution and collection of the
questionnaires.
Both the Police and the National Population Commission (NPC) found it difficult to
supply me some needed data that could have promoted the study more than what it is now.
The little I got was after series of appointments.
The researcher lacked funds to get more materials as at the time of the study.
Some of the respondents did not fill the questionnaire on the knowledge they have
about the area of study but gave it to somebody or filled from another person’s questionnaire.
In the light of the above, the researcher wishes to suggest further research to be
carried out in the following area:
72
i. People’s perception of community policing as an effective strategy for crime,
reduction in Nigeria, replication of this study elsewhere.
ii. Community policing is a success or failure in the Nigerian context.
iii. Community policing and Crime fighting in Nigeria so far.
5.4 Conclusion
Community policing is embedded in joint partnership of the Police and members of
the society to identify crime and disorder and find solution within the society to resolve it. It
is a way to democratize Police Force from military nature in order to protect, serve with
intergrity, safe guard fundamental human rights and ensure equal justice to every citizen, and
among the citizens and security agencies.
From what has been discussed so far, people appreciate community policing and
would want it to stay if the Police will improve on their relationship with the members of the
public.
Finally, both the Police and the people should strive to embrace respect, protection of
human rights and always be willing to help each other whenever the need arises.
5.5 Recommendations
The following recommendations are made based on the findings from the study:
i) The Nigerian Police and other security agencies should put more effort to improve on
their relationship with the members of the public in other to gain the confidence of the people
for easy flow of information because without information by both parties, community
policing will die away.
73
ii) The state government should also help in the provision of sophisticated arms, patrol
vans/ power bikes, rain coat, and all other crime fighting arms to both the Police and other
security agencies to help them contribute effectively for a better crime free society.
iii) Both the government and the public should see the need to adequate reward and
motivate working/serving security officers (police/members of the neighbourhood watch)
who carry out their assignment diligently, so that others will see the need for hard work and
then put in their very best.
iv) Security agencies should not betray the trust of the people by leaking informations
given to them by the people to the hoodlums. For the security agencies to do well, they must
have access to information that comes from the people who know the criminals and their
likely time of operation.
v) Other security agencies outside the police should hand over any suspected criminal to
the police for proper and thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution in the court of
law, so that the law can have its effects.
vi) Qualified personnel (that is the people with passion and desire for the work of
security) should be employed for the job.
vii) Both the Police and the public should strive to imbibe respect for human rights, have
equal justice before the law and see themselves as one indivisible entity in the fight for
criminality.
74
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Appendix i: Study Questionnaire
Letter of Introduction
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Department of Sociology/Anthropology,
Date…………………..
Dear Respondent,
I am a post-graduate student of the above named institution and department
conducting a study on community policing. The research is required for the award of M.Sc of
the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
You have been selected as a knowledgeable resident of the Local Government Area to
respond to some questions. You are not required to give your name for the research is purely
for academic purpose; for any information given/supplied will be treated with utmost
confidence.
Thanks for your anticipated cooperation, for your participation will contribute to the
success of this study.
Yours faithfully,
Nwankwo, E. E.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Section A: Socio-demographic data
Instructions: please tick (√) the most appropriate response(s) that is applicable to you in the
box(es) provided and fill in the blanks with relevant information. .
1. Sex:
(a) Male [ ] (b) Female [ ]
2. Please indicate your age interval:
(a) 18yrs – 27yrs [ ] (b) 28yrs – 37yrs [ ]
(c) 38yrs – 47yrs [ ] (d) 48yrs or above [ ]
3. Indicate your highest educational qualification:
(a) No formal education [ ] (b) Completed primary education [ ]
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(c) Completed post-primary education [ ] (d) Completed higher education [ ]
4. Occupation:
(a) Business [ ] (b) Teaching [ ]
(c) Civil service [ ] (d) Others specify please [ ]
5. Marital status
(a) Single [ ] (b) Married [ ]
(c) Divorced [ ] (d) Widowed [ ]
6. Religious affiliation
(a) African Traditional Religion [ ] (b) Christianity [ ] (c) Islamic Religion [ ]
(d) Others (specify)…………………………………………………….
SECTION B: INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY POLICING AND CRIME REDUCTION
7. Have you ever heard about incident of crime in Enugu North Local Government?
a. Yes ( ) b. No ( )
8. If yes, have you ever been a victim of crime?
a. Yes ( ) b. No ( )
9. How often do you hear of crime in your area?
a. Daily ( ) b. Once a week ( ) c. Once a month ( ) d. Scarcely ( )
10. What kind of crime is rampant in the Local Government?
a. Murder ( ) b. Smuggling ( ) c. Theft and other stealing ( ) d. Armed
Robbery ( ) e. Kidnapping ( ) f. Please specify others……………………….…
11. How would you assess the crime rate in Enugu North Local Government?
a. High ( ) b. Low ( ) c. Stable ( ) d. No idea ( )
12. How often do you see the police in your area?
a. Daily ( ) b. Once a week ( ) c. Once a month ( ) d. Scarcely ( )
13. How would you rate the efforts of the police to dictate and control crime in your area?
83
a. Encouraging ( ) b. Discouraging ( ) c. Don’t know ( )
14. Did the police collaborate with the residents of your community in crime reduction?
a. Yes ( ) b. No ( ) c. No idea ( )
15. Have you ever heard of community policing?
a. Yes ( ) b. No ( ) c. No idea ( )
16. How would you access the performance of the community trained police men in crime
control? a. Encouraging ( ) b. Discouraging ( ) c. Don’t know ( )
17. How would you rate the relationship between the police and other security agencies in
your Area? a. Cordial ( ) b. Not cordial ( ) c. Antagonistic ( )
18. How cordial is your relationship with the police in your Local Government?
a. Excellent ( ) b. fair ( ) c. Tough ( ) d. I don’t know ( )
19. Do you support the public partnership with the police for crime control?
a. Yes ( ) b. No ( )
20. If yes, what are your reason(s)?
…………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………….
21. How would you rate the relationship of the police and members of your Local
Government since the introduction of community policing?
a. Cordial ( ) b. Antagonistic ( ) c. No idea ( )
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22. How do you rate fear of crime now that the police and community are partners?
a. High ( ) b. Stable ( ) c. Low ( )
23. Do you still support police/public partnership in Enugu North Local Government Area?
a. Yes ( ) b. No ( ) c. Don’t know
24. What is your perception about community policing in crime reduction in Enugu North?
a. Very good ( ) b. Discouraging ( ) c. Should be improved ( )
25. What other strategy can you suggest to enhance crime free society?
................................................................................................................
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Appendix ii: Interview Schedule Consent Letter
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Department of Sociology/ Anthropology,
4th February 2011.
________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Sir/ Madam,
REQUEST FOR THE CONSENT OF YOUR OFFICE TO CONDUCT AN
INTERVIEW FOR A PROJECT WORK
I am a post-graduate student of the above named institution and department
conducting a study on community policing.
Your office has been selected for interview in this study because of the important role
you play in controlling crime in Nigeria. I assure you that the information you provide will be
treated with utmost confidence because the study is purely academic.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and God bless you.
Yours faithfully,
Nwankwo, E. E.
INDEPT INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR THE OFFICERS OF THE AGENTS OF CRIME
CONTROL AND THE IGWE OF OGUI URBAN IN ENUGU NORTH LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREA
Sex: a. Male ( ) b. Female ( )
Age: ……………………………………………………..
Office: …………………………………………………….
86
1. Are you aware of crime incident in Enugu North?
i. Have you ever been a victim of crime?
ii. Can you probe the rate of crime incident in Enugu North?
2. Are there security measure(s) put in place to combat crime in your area?
i. Can you please point out those measure(s) put in place to combat it?
ii. In what ways do you and your office cooperate or collaborate with security
to control crime in this area?
3. What knowledge do you have about community policing?
i. What do you think that brought about community policing in Enugu North?
ii. How will you assess the effectiveness of community policing in Enugu North?
4. Before the introduction of the community policing, how would you assess the
understanding between the police and the local government residents with the
understanding now we are practicing community policing?
i. With the rate of understanding between the police and the public now, how would
you assess crime rate?
ii. Are you comfortable with community policing or know of any other strategy that
can enhances crime reduction?
5. What do you think are the major challenges facing your office as the Nigerian police
or neighbourhood watch or you the Igwe of Ogui Urban for effective community
policing in Enugu North and Nigeria at large?