Role of Citizens in Community Policing in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
The general objective of the study is to assess the role of citizens in community policing in Dutsin-ma Local Government of Katsina State. Other specific objectives include:
- To identify the factors that facilitate crime in Dutsin ma local area of Katsina stste.
- To examine the nature of crime in Dutsin-ma local area.
- To identify the challenges of formal agencies of crime control.
- To assess the roles of citizens in community policing and crime prevention in Dutsin-ma.
- To suggest possible ways of increasing the effectiveness of community in Dutsin-ma.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Introduction
This chapter deals with the review of literature on the role of citizens in community policing in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. The theme covered by the review includes the concept of community policing, concept of citizens, the concept of crime and its types, the causes of crime, the strategies of crime control, the role of citizens in community policing and a theoretical framework to compliment the study will be presented for sociological analysis.
Conceptual Framework
The main thrust of this section is to discuss the views or contributions of various scholars, as well as their analysis on the major concepts in this study as they relates to the subject matter of this research.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
Introduction
This chapter is concerned with the various methods, ways and procedures through which the empirical aspect of this research work is realized. This chapter provides a detailed description of the methodology used in collecting, presenting and analyzing the research data. Thus, items examined here include research design, research setting, the population of the study, methods of data collection, sampling procedure, techniques of data analysis and problems encountered in the field.
Research Design
In this study, the cross-sectional survey method will be employed as a research design. The essence of adopting this method is based on the fact that the study is a one snap shot study of the phenomenon of the role of citizens in community policing. According to Udontre (2004), this design becomes relevant when the researcher is expected to carry out quick study of a group. The choice of survey design was justified because it is appropriate to the study objectives which are concerned with obtaining opinions, attitudes and beliefs of group of people (sample).
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
Introduction
This chapter analyses, presents data as well as discuss the findings in this study. The chapter is divided into six subsection sections: the first section covers the socio-demographic data of the respondents. The second consists of respondent’s perception on the nature of crime in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area. The third comprises of respondent’s perception on the factors that facilitate crime in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. The fourth comprises of respondent’s perception on the challenges of formal agencies of crime control. The fifth consist of respondent’s perception on the roles of citizens in community policing and crime prevention in Dutsin-ma. The final section consists of possible ways of increasing the effectiveness of community in Dutsin-ma.
The analysis was based on one hundred and ten (110) questionnaires that were appropriately filled and returned out of the one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires administered to respondents.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
This research was initiated to assess the role of citizens in community policing in Dutsin-ma Local Government of Katsina State. Other specific objectives include: to examine the nature of crime in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area; to identify the factors that facilitate crime in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State; to identify the challenges of formal agencies of crime control; to assess the roles of citizens in community policing and crime prevention in Dutsin-ma; and to suggest possible ways of increasing the effectiveness of community in Dutsin-ma.
Summary
Community policing is collaboration between the police and the community so as to identify and solves community crime problems. In other words, it involves the Police in partnership with civilians to fight crime. Findings revealed that the types of crime perpetrated in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area include burglary, armed robbery, rape and the abuse of drugs and substance. More so, findings revealed that factors such as unemployment, poverty, greed/ redundancy among youth and the use of drugs and substance facilitate crime in Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. Similarly, it was also revealed that the challenges of formal agencies of crime control include lack of logistics, inadequate crime control equipment and facilities in execution their duties and corruption among officers. Furthermore, it was revealed that the roles of citizens in community policing and crime prevention in Dutsin-ma include formation of vigilante groups, collaboration with formal agencies for crime control, rendering of physical, social and financial support to crime control agencies and provision of good communication network to crime control agencies. Community policing can be improved in certain measures are put in place: good means of communication/relationship with formal agencies, frequent night patrols, citizen’s participation in community decision making and awareness creation on security cautiousness. Finally, findings reveled that, there is significant relationship between the roles of citizens in community policing and extent of criminal activities within Dutsin-ma; there is significant relationship between criminal activities and the socio-economic development of the society.
Conclusion
From the study so far it can be concluded that community policing is prevalent in Dutsin-ma local government area of Katsina state. The nature of crime in Dutsin-ma has been identified to be burglary, armed robbery, rape and of the abuse of drugs and substance. These criminal activities are on the increase in Dutsin-ma, implying that there is need for public intervention. Quite unfortunate, the youth are the perpetrators of crime in the study area. Certain factors are identified to facilitate crime in Dutsin-ma. These are unemployment, poverty, greed and redundancy among youth as well as the use of drugs and substance. Formal agencies of crime control face severe challenges which range from lack of logistics, inadequate crime control equipment and facilities in executing their duties, and corruption among officers. However, in order to control crime, citizens play major roles in community policing and crime prevention in Dutsin-ma. These roles range from formation of vigilante groups, collaboration with formal agencies for crime control, rendering of physical, social and financial support to crime control agencies as well as provision of good communication network to crime control agencies. Community policing can be effective if proper measure are put in place: enhancing good means of communication/relationship with formal agencies, ensuring frequent night patrols, citizen’s participation in community decision making. It can also be concluded that there is significant relationship between the roles of citizens in community policing and extent of criminal activities within Dutsin-ma, and there is significant relationship between criminal activities and the socio-economic development of the society as well.
Recommendations
In order to improve community policing in Dutsin-ma town, the following recommendations must be met. For community policing to be effective and efficient in combating crimes in Dutsin-ma, the agencies of the intelligence social control systems must be formally incorporated to work with the police.
Members of the indigenous social control agencies as indicated indigenes of their local communities who are more conversant with the environment and terrain should work alongside the police in combating crime.
Members of the police who are involved in community policing should be given a new orientation (through their training) to recognize, and protect the dignity and rights of the public to establish cordial relationships with the citizenry.
More importantly, the police organization be more accountable, civil and incorruptible in their dealings with members of the public. This will change the negative perception members of the Nigerian public have on the police.
The government should equip the formal security agencies of crime control such as the Police, the Civil Defense, Army, Immigration, NDLEA and so on, in such a way that they constantly patrol the streets so as to ensure safety. The informal mechanisms of crime control should collaborate with the formal agencies to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in crime prevention and control.
The masses should establish good means of communication/relationship with formal agencies. This will play a long way in providing relevant information to the police and other agencies about suspected cases which could be criminally oriented.
Those involved in community policing should try as much as possible to engage in frequent night patrol. This will help scare away perpetrators of crime and also apprehends criminals who parade the area at night.
Citizens participation in community decision making should be encouraged so as to enable the masses cry out their mind on issues that troubles them especially when it relates to security matters.
There should be sensitization and awareness creation on security cautiousness. this should be done through the religious worship centres, markets, and the mass media. This will help structure the movements of the general public on how to avoid being a victim of crime.
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