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

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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

13

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.

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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,

53

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.

63

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.

65

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.

66

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

67

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?