COMMUNITY POLICING ON CRIME PREVENTION IN BWARI LOCAL

GOVERNMENT AREAS

BY

OKECHUKWU CHRISTOPHER DIKE

NOU193136940

BEING A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY AND

SECURITY STUDIES, FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES (FSS) NATIONAL OPEN

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NIGERIA POLICE SPECIAL STUDY CENTER KUBWA

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IN CRIMINOLOGY AND SECURITY STUDIES.

MAY 2023
 DECLARATION

I, Okechukwu Christopher Dike, hereby declare that the project work entitled ‘Community

Policing on Crime Prevention in Bwari Local Government Areas’ is a record of an original

work done by me, as a result of my research effort carried out in the Faculty of Social Sciences,

National Open University of Nigeria, under the supervision of Dr. William Emmina.

________________________ _______________________
Okechukwu Christopher Dike Signature & Date

ii
 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this research project titled “Community Policing on Crime Prevention in

Bwari Local Government Areas” was carried out by Okechukwu Christopher Dike with Matric

Number NOU193136940 in the Department of Criminology and Security Studies Faculty of

Social Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, under my supervision.

__________________________ __________________________
Supervisor Date

__________________________ __________________________
Director Date

__________________________ __________________________
Faculty Officer Date

__________________________ __________________________
External Examiner Date

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 DEDICATION

I dedicated this project to Almighty God who gave me strength and the resources needed for this

work. He has been the source of my inspiration throughout this program and on His wings only

have I soared. I also dedicated this to my parents and my loving sister who encouraged me all

the way and whose encouragement have made sure that I give it all it takes to finish that which I

have started. May the blessing of God be with them now and always “Amen”.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

All thanks to God for without His grace and blessings, this study would have been impossible. I

would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all those who gave me the adequate support

to excel in this report. Special thanks are due to my Supervisor Dr. William Emmina and my

faculty officer Mr. Oguche Felix whose help, encouragement and stimulating suggestions

contributed greatly in this report.

I would like express my gratitude to my guardian and sponsor CDR and Mr. Christian Ijeh, who

supports and helped me in all ways to assure the success of this study. Also, to my golden mother

Mrs. Felicia Dike for all her prayers and encouragements.

All thanks to my family and friend Valentine Zimo for giving me solid supports, love and

encouragement in conducting different tasks which became part of my research, thank you very

much.

Finally, I apologized to all other unnamed who helped me in various ways to have a successful

career.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT Page

Title Page …………………………………………………………………………………

Declaration ………………………………………………………………………............. ii
Certification ………………………………………………………………………….……. iii
Dedication………………………………………………………………………………… iv
Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………. v
Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………... ……. vi
List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………………… x
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………… xi

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study……………………………………………………………………...

1.2 Statement of The Problem ……………………………………………………………............5

1.3 Objectives of the Study………………………..……………………………………………... 6

1.4 Research Questions……………………………………………………………………………6

1.5 Statement of Hypothesis………….………………………………………………………….. 6

1.6 Significance of the Study ……………………………………………………………………. 7

1.7 Scope of the Study …………………………………………………………………………... 7

1.8 Limitations of the Study ……………………………………………………..………………. 8

1.9 Organization of the Study……………………………………………………………………. 8

1.10 Definition of Terms …………………………………………………………………….... 9

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………. 10

2.1 Conceptual Reviews………………………………………………………………………… 11

2.2 Concept of Security …………………………………………………………….…………… 12

2.2.1 Comparing Perceived and Actual Security………………………………………………... 12

2.2.2 Classifying Security……………………………………………………………………..… 13

2.3 Community policing characteristics ………………………………………………….......... 15

2.4 Community policing tenets inform, direct, and sustain all police operations ………………. 18

2.4.1 Leadership………………………………………………………………………………… 19

2.4.2 Change……………………………………………………………………………………. 19

2.5 Organizational Strategy and Philosophy……………………………………………………. 20

2.5.1 Vision……………………………………………………………………………………... 20

2.5.2 Equity……………………………………………………………………………………... 20

2.5.3 Trust………………………………………………………………………………………. 21

2.5.4 Legality…………………………………………………………………………………… 21

2.5.5 Expanding Police Authority………………………………………………………………. 22

2.6 Problem-Focused Approach………………………………………………………………… 23

2.6.1 Information management………………………………………………………………….. 24

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2.6.2 Career Generalist…………………………………………………………………………. 24

2.7 Community policing Components…………...……………………………………………... 24

2.7.1 Administrative Components……………………………………………………………… 25

2.7.2 The community…………………………………………………………………………… 25

2.7.3 Collaboration with the government and other organizations…………………....………… 25

2.8 Advantages of Community Police………………………………………..…..…………. 26

2.8.1 Evaluation Standards for Community Policing Success………………...……….…….... 27

2.8.2 Prevention of Secondary Crime…………………………………………………………. 28

2.8.3 Importance to the Communities……………………………………………………….… 29

2.8.4 Importance to the Community and Police…………………………………..……..…… 30

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction ……..………………………………………………………………………….. 31

3.2 Research Design ………….………………………………………………………………… 31

3.3 Research Population ………………………………………………………………………... 32

3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques …………………………………………………………. 32

3.5 Research Instrument ………………………………………………………………………… 33

3.6 Validity of Instrument ………………...……………………………………………………. 33

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3.7 Reliability of the Instrument ………………………………………………………………… 33

3.8 Procedure for data collection ………………………………………………………………. 34

3.9 Method of Data Analysis ………………………………………............................................. 34

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Introduction ……….…………………………………………...…………………………….35

4.2 Research Question 1 ………………………………….……………………………………... 36

4.3 Research Question 2 ………………………………………………………………………… 37

4.4 Research Question 3………………………………………………………………………… 39

4.5 Summary of the Findings……………………………………………………………………. 41

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Discussion of the Findings …………………………………………………………………. 39

5.2 Conclusion ...…………………………………………………………………….……….… 40

5.3 Recommendations ...………………………………………………………………………... 40

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 41

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Does Bwari LGA have provisions for community policing?……………………….. 35

Table 2: How well has community policing answered Bwari LGA concerns

regarding the security of people and property? ..........................…………………………….. 37

Table 3l: How visible and practical is community policing

in Bwari LGA? …..…………………………………………………………………………… 39

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 ABSTRACT

The recent changes to community policing in Bwari and Nigeria at large will be critically analyzed
in this Study, with the goal of defending lives and property at the neighborhood level, community
policing is a solid cooperation between the police and members of the public. The study is based
on the concept that involving local residents in efforts to control crime and reduce social unrest
in Bwari Local Government Area. The study will employ questionnaire and a descriptive analysis
to gather information. Policing strategy aids officers in locating, analyzing, and addressing
societal issues with the full backing of the local populace. In Nigeria, key initiatives for efficient
community policing include; police-community partnerships, police-community information
sharing, and police participation in civic activities. However, obstacles like bribery and
corruption, violations of human rights, a decline in public confidence, the meddling attitudes of
political godfathers and the needless use of coercion to enforce rule compliance have thwarted
every attempt to improve and stabilize police-public cooperation. The study will also look at the
justification for the implementation of community policing and its benefits in maintaining a crime-
free environment. Hence, it is imperative that both the Nigerian police and the local populace
adopt the values of morality, social justice, and complete conscience overhauling in order to retain
the mutual support and create a favorable environment for community policing.

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The main responsibilities of the police are crime detection and prevention. Without the active

participation of the community, the police have a tough time fighting crime. Palmiotto (2010)

added support to the argument by stating that without community support, law enforcement cannot

effectively combat crime. Therefore, there needs to be community involvement and partnership in

order to properly reduce crime. This statistic shows the importance of involving the community,

the local administration, and the police in the fight against crime.

The quality of life for both individuals and the community is considered to be directly impacted

by “crime”, which is a significant social issue. It has an impact on victims, society at large, and on

the economy, health, and psychology. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the police are

the institution most in the public eye when it comes to battling crime. In many nations, including

Nigeria, community policing has grown to be a significant problem, according to Morgan (2006).

The best method of policing presently, in Taye's opinion (2011; Abebe, 2004), is community

policing. According to Abebe, Community policing is the most effective strategy currently

available, and it should be the police's primary focus.

Traditionally, maintaining order in the community fell to all of the adults. Prior to the

establishment of professional police forces as state institutions, all adult males in medieval society

were required to participate to the "hue, cry, and pursuit" and "watch and wards" systems, which

sought to prevent and manage crime and unrest (Asaleye et al, 2014).

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However, the state's rise, with its massive bureaucracy based on centralization, a hierarchical

system of authority and control, and a professional workforce (Alemika, 2003), altered the

conventional police ideology that was founded on the notion that policing was everyone's business.

(Desmond, 2008).

In order to address the problem of violence and crimes in society, specialized agencies like the

police and the armed forces were developed as a result of the state emerging as an organization

with a claim to the monopoly over the means of legal control of violence in society (Reiner 2001).

Community policing, training, and operational techniques now face heightened demands and

difficulties as a result of Nigeria's democratic transition. People now anticipate the police to uphold

the rule of law and their human rights while conducting their duties in society.

As the name suggests, community policing calls for a special collaboration between the public and

police in order to reduce crime. It is a cutting-edge policing method that enables the police to go

beyond simply fighting crime and work alongside community people to establish the security

priorities in society and create solutions for problems that have been recognized in the

neighborhood (Ogadimma and Rasheed, 2013).

By working together, the police and the public will both become "co-producers of safety" in the

neighborhood. According to the Nigeria Police's mission statement, community policing and crime

prevention would help to build a more secure environment that is safe for significant

socioeconomic development. It is important to remember that adult education has a significant role

to play in this endeavor. The local community is the main focus of adult education, which is aimed

at the general public. Its main objective is to build and enhance the mechanisms by which people

attempt to organize in order to find solutions to their collective challenges. This is so that people

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are more conscious of their own needs as well as those of their community. It enables those who

receive it to successfully deal with contemporary issues. They become more aware of the value of

education in bringing about such change and develop a desire for the better as a result (Arase &

Iwuofor, 2007).

Community-oriented policing proponents think that this new paradigm has the potential to be used

as a blueprint for criminal justice system change. According to (Arase, 2007), community

policing's guiding principles and objectives can influence all facets of adult education, making

adult education essential for institutionalizing and institutionalizing the change to community

policing. In order to accomplish this, it is advised that every aspect of training be scrutinized to

make sure it supports the goal of community-oriented policing, which is to offer decentralized and

individualized police service that enables the community to take part as partners in the process of

making their neighborhoods better and safer places to live and work.

As society became more empowered, this relationship developed. Both the police and the

community must bear responsibility for individual actions and omissions in community policing

programs. The goal of the paradigm shift known as "Community policing" is to re-negotiate the

relationship between the public and the police so that the community becomes a co-producer of

justice and high-quality police services. The implementation of the community policing program

in 2004 was the Nigerian police force's most recent effort to boost performance. This was a part

of the Force's aim to transform policing into a contemporary, expert form that could guarantee the

greatest level of safety for people and property in Nigeria.

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1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite its potential benefits, community-based policing has challenges when it comes to

implementation and operation in the real world. The difficulty of implementation has grown to be

a significant police concern. Both the police and the general public have the potential to oppose an

action. When it comes to violent crimes, the police occasionally believe that community-based

policing is insufficient and overly lenient with suspects. Police operations were governed by

professional orientations, despite the fact that the police invested a lot of time and money in

educating their officers. The cops continue to aggravate citizens by performing their duties. Even

after taking community-oriented policing training, the police officers who benefited from the flaws

of the conventional method find it challenging to shift their orientations.

Police behaviors toward the public continue to be dominated by the perception of law enforcement

rather than service to the people. It can be challenging for the police to implement a community-

oriented policing strategy in their neighborhood at times due to some of the deviant sub-cultures

within the police organization (Ade, 2009).

Despite police efforts to combat crime and enforce the law, crime rates continue to rise, and public

fear of crime is also rising. The majority of police actions were planned and executed without

much community input. Police officers' reactionary policing tactics and disregard for citizens'

rights, dignity, and security concerns while carrying out their duties in the community widened the

chasm between them and the populace. By fostering more public confidence and trust in the police,

community-oriented policing training seeks to close this trust gap between the public and the

police.

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1.3 Objective of the Study

Examining how community policing affects the safety of people and property in Bwari Local

Government, Abuja is the primary goal of this study.

1. Ascertain the community policing options offered by Bwari LGA.

2. Determine the extent to which community policing has improved security in Bwari LGA.

4. Determine whether community policing is present and functional in Bwari LGA.

1.4 Research Questions

2. Does Bwari LGA have provisions for community policing?

3. How well has community policing answered Bwari LGA concerns regarding the security of

people and property?

4. How visible and practical is community policing in Bwari LGA?

1.5 Statement of Hypothesis

Community policing is not visible/viable in Bwari LGA. Police and citizens are supposedly

partnered together through community policing. The study found that the public's impression of

the Nigerian police force is on the negative side and that the public's confidence in the Nigeria

police is very low and unfavorable based on the theories and literature analyzed as well as the

individual experiences of members of the society. Due to their degree of trust, many residents of

the Bwari Local Government favor using local vigilantes over the Nigerian police. This

calls for a serious understanding of the role that Nigeria's police force plays in both the local

community and Nigeria as a whole.

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1.6 Significance of the Study

The overall findings of the study may help in:

Providing practical experience and guidance in using Community Policing to fight crime in the

community, state, and study area in particular. Recognizing the difficulties in community policing

in Bwari LGA and the rest of Abuja in general. As the primary objective of the first element of

community policing, the study will ensure that mutual trust is established and maintained between

community members and the police. The police have always acknowledged the value of

community involvement and have urged residents to come forward with information to help fight

crime. The results of the study will guarantee full collaboration; the police and local citizens and

business owners will identify the main issues, put forth solutions, and put those answers into

action. As a result, the worries that the community feels are most dangerous to its members' safety

and well-being are identified. The priority areas for collaborative police-community initiatives are

then those areas of concern. In order for this problem-solving procedure to be successful, the police

must take the time to learn about the community's worries and to acknowledge the veracity of

those worries.

The study will improve the development of community policing partnerships and the application

of problem-solving techniques that call for establishing new roles and employing a flexible

management approach.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The impact of community policing on the safety of people and property in Bwari LGA was the

exclusive focus of the study.

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1.8 Limitations of the Study

Community policing can only be accomplished with community involvement. There isn't much of

a history between the cops and the neighborhood. Problems with trust and any attempts to include

the community. Building trust and involving the community have frequently failed attempts.

1.9 Organization of the Study

This study is divided into five (5) chapters. Chapter one of the study consists of the general

introduction which includes; the background of the study, the statement of the problem, the

objective of study, the research questions, significance of the study, the scope of study, limitations

of the study, the organization of the study, and the Definition of terms. Chapter two is the literature

review which evaluates the works of other researchers on the subject "Community Policing on

crime prevention in Bwari Local Government areas ", their approaches on both Conceptual and

theoretical frame work. Chapter three is the research methodology which includes; the research

design, source of data, population of the study, method of data analysis, instruments, validation of

instruments, test for reliability of research instruments, population of the study, sample size and

sampling technique and Technique of data analysis. Chapter four is the data presentation, analysis

and discussion of findings. Lastly is the chapter five which include the Summary, Conclusion and

Recommendations.

1.10 Definition of Terms;

1. Community: The term "community" refers to a collection of individuals who share three

characteristics: they reside in a geographically separate location (such as a city or town); they share

cultural traits, attitudes, and lifestyles; and they regularly engage in social interaction. Therefore,

7
a community may be defined as a collection of people who live in the same city, are from the same

social class, have a common culture, have similar goals, and are psychologically similar.

2. Policing: Policing is the effort made by the police or others to ensure that justice and security

are prevalent. It is focused on a wide range of concerns and procedures. Consequently, policing is

a service provided by the police to the community for the benefit of that community. The

community, concerned government agencies, and non-governmental organizations were not the

only institutions involved in policing; they too had a role to play.

3. Police: A police officer is a person who has received training in crime prevention and

investigation in order to uphold community safety and peace.

4. Community Partnership: The term "community partnership" refers to any grouping of locals,

businesses, churches, schools, community-based groups, elected officials, and government

agencies cooperating with the police to address problems that have been recognized. In order to

improve everyone's quality of life in general and crime prevention in particular, community

policing emphasizes the necessity for the police, civil society organizations, and other

governmental agencies to actively work in detecting and resolving concerns.

5. Crime: It is an unlawful act that harms another person physically or morally.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITTERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

There are several ways to describe community policing: some use its goal and functions, others its

organization and programs, yet others its philosophy. The theoretical explanations of community

policing provided by many authors and institutions. "Police departments have been implementing

fresh approaches to providing services to their constituents for more than 15 years. Community

policing, community focused policing, problem-oriented policing, neighborhood-oriented

policing, problem solving policing, and a variety of other names have all been used to describe

these new tactics. It's frequently challenging to interpret what these names signify. Under further

examination, a department that claims to be engaged in community policing may actually be using

a problem-oriented method. Despite its assurances, a department may be working more to improve

police-community relations than to address enduring issues. Community policing is a philosophy

that encourages organizational solutions that support the systematic use of partnerships and

problem-solving methods to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to

concerns with public safety like crime, social disorder, and fear of crime (Coquilhat, 2009).

Jenny (2010) similarly described community policing as "A philosophy of policing that promotes

community-based problem-solving strategies to address the underlying causes of crime and

disorder and provide reassurance." It is a method for creating communication with the public,

sharing or co-producing crime control with the public, and improving the quality of life in

communities while strengthening police legitimacy.

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2.1 Conceptual Reviews

Community policing includes a range of theoretical and operational strategies and is still

developing quickly. Community policing, according to Mastrofski (2006), is an effort to bring the

police and the community closer together through "partnership" arrangements, joint activities to

co-produce services and desired outcomes, giving the community more influence over what the

police do, or just talking to one another to foster a better sense of police-community compatibility.

The definition of community policing was given a philosophical twist by Trojanowicz and

Buequeroux (2000). He describes it as a new policing concept that places an emphasis on police

and community members collaborating in novel ways to address issues such as crime, fear of

crime, and disruption in the neighborhood. When he describes community policing as a security

management strategy that heavily relies on the articulation of policing values that incorporate

citizen involvement in issues that directly affect neighborhood safety and quality of life, Brown

(2009) shares the viewpoint of Mastrofski, Trojanowicz, and others. According to a common line

of reasoning among the academics, whether community policing is successful or not depends

primarily on how effectively it is implemented in each community (Young & Tinsley, 2008).

A social group of any size that shares similar ideals or is located in a certain place is referred to as

a community (e.g., a village or town). It is a group of people who are linked by strong links that

go beyond simple kinship and who regard those ties as essential to their social identities and

practices. Although they are typically tiny, communities can also refer to significant numbers of

people, including international, national, and online communities.

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The term "community" is derived from the Latin word communitas and the Old French word

comuneté (from Latin communis, things held in common). In human communities, people'

identities and levels of cohesion may be impacted by shared intent, beliefs, resources, preferences,

needs, and hazards (Adewunmi, 2009).

The term "community" is a catch-all that can be used and defined in a wide variety of contexts. It

can be used to describe, for example, geographical communities with members based on region

(Ife, 2009), units of social organizations like worker and community associations, cultural groups

that can be distinguished by religions or races (Maimunah Ismail, 2001), or virtual communities,

where members' primary method of communication is through electronic media (Ife, 2009).

Another type of group that might exist are communities of circumstance. Such a community might

develop, for instance, if there are floods in several locations and the people who are most impacted

by them feel connected to one another (Marsh, 2009). Communities of interest are a last option,

where identity groups get together to press the government for a particular policy modification or

sponsorship. There are numerous definitions of community development in the literature.

Although they differ from one community to the next, all community development shares certain

recognizable traits. It highlighted the method by which locals banded together to make plans and

implement solutions to issues facing the neighborhood. They determine the needs and issues of

the community, organize activities together, and carry them out using the resources offered by the

community. A more thorough definition of community development was offered by Maimunah

Ismail (2010). It is the process through which neighborhood activities are planned and coordinated

in order to improve the economic, social, cultural, spiritual, and environmental quality of life in

the neighborhood with the least amount of outside assistance.

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A more complete and collaborative community development approach, as proposed by Kirk and

Shutte (2004), consists of three elements: connective leadership, collective empowerment, and

leading change via discourse. Abu DaudSilong (2007) presented a participatory leadership-based

community development model for the Malaysian community, wherein community leaders must

involve community members in both the conception and execution of programs from the outset.

According to those definitions, the following goals were pursued by community development

efforts:

(a) To promote community planning and program execution at the local level;

(b) To achieve social, economic, spiritual, and cultural development;

(c) To foster the growth of community leaders;

(d) To enhance relationships and cooperation among community members;

(e) To make the best use of community resources;

A small number of researches from the past demonstrated that women approach community

development in a more "holistic" and "comprehensive" manner. These studies also showed that

development efforts were more thorough than those of groups managed by men when women were

in leadership roles and made up the majority of board members (Gittel, 2010a, 2010b). The

continuing inclusion of a gender perspective in writing about leadership and community

development is the goal of this study. This study looked at how community policing affected the

situation of Bwari Local Government security. It is divided into the following subsections:

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2.2 Security Concept

Security is the level of protection or resistance to danger. It applies to any asset that is both

susceptible and valuable, such as a person, house, neighborhood, thing, country, or organization.

Security, according to the Institute for Security and Open Methodologies (ISECOM) in the

OSSTMM 3, offers "a form of protection where a separation is created between the assets and the

threat." These divisions are collectively referred to as "controls," and occasionally involve

modifications to the threat or the asset (John, 2012).

2.2.1 Comparing Perceived and Actual security

There may be a poor correlation between perceived security and quantifiable objective security.

For instance, despite the fact that the latter causes far more fatalities than the former, it has been

noted that fear of earthquakes is more prevalent (Oloye, 2013). The perceived efficacy of security

measures can occasionally differ from the real security those methods offer. It's possible to mistake

the existence of security safeguards for security in and of itself. For instance, even when the owner

thinks he or she is getting double the protection, two computer security systems may be interfering

with one another and potentially canceling each other's effects.

Security Theater refers to the use of measures that are primarily intended to increase subjective

security without a true or proportionate concern for how those efforts may affect objective security.

For instance, some people believe that computer-assisted passenger screening systems and

Security Theater, which screen passengers based on static databases, have reduced the overall level

of security. When it impacts or discourages criminal activity, such as via visible indicators of

security safeguards like video surveillance, alarm systems in homes, or anti-theft systems in cars

like a vehicle tracking system or warning sign, perception of security can boost objective security.

13
Because some burglars will choose not to try to get into these places or vehicles, there may be

reduced damage to the windows as well as security for the valuables inside. Without such

advertising, a burglar may, for instance, approach a car, smash the window, and then run away

when the alarm goes off. In either case, it's possible that neither the car nor the items inside are

stolen, but with increased perceived security, even the windows of the automobile are less likely

to be broken.

2.2.2 Classifying Security

The study and classification of security are topics covered in a vast body of literature. This is partly

because the "weakest link in the chain" in most security systems is also the most crucial one. The

situation is asymmetrical since the "defender" must defend against all potential areas of attack,

while the attacker only needs to pinpoint one vulnerability on which to focus.

2.3 Community Policing Characteristics

Community policing is customer-focused. Community policing is a cooperation with the goals of

identifying local needs and policing objectives as well as fostering police effectiveness and

accountability. All interested parties should take part in community policing. Problem-solving is

successful with community policing. The creation of solutions to the issues might be aided by

collectively identifying and analyzing the actual and possible sources of crime and conflict.

In order to solve problems with service delivery and police-community interactions, it is also

necessary to resolve conflicts and use other original approaches. By fostering a sense of shared

responsibility and a collaborative capacity for resolving issues that both the community and police

officers find to be of concern, community policing acts as an agent of empowerment.

14
Police must deliver a high-quality policing service that is effective and efficient, often known as

service orientation. There must be equity in service delivery, as stated in Trojanowicz and

Bucqueroux's (2007) writings. This means that regardless of colour, gender, ethnicity, religious

preference, income, sexual preference, or other distinctions, all residents will be required to receive

adequate police service. The following are further characteristics of community policing

(a) Community partnership: This entails stepping away from the traditional law enforcement

focus and embracing a policing approach (Skogan, 2004). In order to effectively share information

with the community and conduct police activity, community policing urges the police and other

organizations to build partnerships with the community. Partnerships, according to Lab (2004),

take many different forms and engage police in a wide range of capacities to handle certain issues.

Additionally, it is an analytical method and plan for prioritizing in a group setting the particular

issues facing the community and their root causes (Bullock & Tilley, 2008). So, another important

characteristic of community policing is issue solving. Community empowerment is a crucial

component of community policing. It refers to the methods by which individuals unite, achieve a

common goal, and discover their own inner strength.

A community that is empowered has a structure that gives its members the chance to an empowered

community must be accountable to the community, and its members must be willing to use that

structure in order to give members the chance to participate in community activities (Palmiotto,

2000).

15
(b) Empowerment, according to Whisenand and Ferguson (2009), is about power sharing. Power

sharing encourages participation, completion of the task, good performance, and high standards of

service. Disorder and deterioration in the neighborhood foster crime. Law-abiding citizens feel

powerless to change their surroundings as they see the situations around them deteriorate. Decay

and disarray give criminals more power, and when they take over, crime rates start to rise. The

community police officer's impact is to provide law-abiding citizens the power to regain control

of their surroundings. In order to empower residents, the following steps must be taken:

establishing a highly visible police presence in the neighborhood to discourage the local criminal

element; acting as a catalyst to mobilize other city services as needed to improve the

neighborhood's physical conditions; collaborating with residents to help them take action to

improve their personal safety and the safety of their property; creating Neighborhood Associations

and Crime Watch associations to facilitate the development of community-based safety measures;

and (St. Petersburg police department strategic plan 2008). By developing systems for holding

police accountable for addressing the needs and concerns of the community they serve,

accountability is achieved (South Africa, 2007). If police accountability is established or achieved,

police officers must be aware that they will be held directly responsible for their acts and must

personally answer for whatever they do. Additionally, the community is responsible for providing

the appropriate training, responding to police requests, and getting involved in all aspects of police

operations (Trojanowicz, 2008). Therefore, accountability means that both the police and the

community are accountable for improving the quality of life in the community. These only occur

when each individual police officer and member of the community takes personal responsibility

for it and conducts their lives in accordance with community policing ideas.

16
The aforementioned ideas suggest that community policing is defined by offering quick, effective

service that aims to address issues that the community encounters through tight community police-

partnership. When society became more empowered, this partnership was born. For individual

actions and omissions in community policing efforts, both the police and the community must take

responsibility.

2.4 Community policing tenets inform, direct, and sustain all police operations.

The community policing paradigm is founded on the following key ideas. These guidelines must

be followed by any police organization, regardless of size, that intends to implement a community

policing strategy.

1. Neighborhood policing complies with and defends human rights appreciates, respects, and

allows for the diversity of our community's languages, cultures, and values.

2. Fostering communication and trust between the community, the police, and other

stakeholders shares in decision-making and responsibility.

3. Identifies and prioritize community needs, improves responsiveness, and resolves issues in

conjunction with the community.

4. Teaches police officers and community residents so they may take an active role in

resolving issues with safety and security.

5. A process for resolving disputes between and among community groupings that promotes

peace and stability

6. Increases the police's responsibility to the community they serve.

17
 7. Maintains the police and community's dedication to safety and security.

2.4.1 Leadership

Leaders use their positions to influence and inform people about community policing, serving as

role models for taking risks and forming cooperative partnerships. The act of directing and

influencing others' behavior is known as leadership (Stevens, 2003:104). The notion that

leadership is "a process of leading and influencing the conduct of others towards the fulfillment of

objectives" (Peak et al., 2004). Police Service That Is Decentralized and Individualized Police

agencies must develop a new type of line officer, who serves as a direct point of contact between

the police and members of the community, in order to better conduct community policing. In the

end, community policing should be used by all police officers (Abebe, 2008).

2.4.2 Change

The transition to community policing has an ongoing impact on the organizational culture and

individual behavior. Before a police agency tries to implement community policing,

transformation is a vital principle that must be followed, according to Trojanowicz and

Bucqueroux (2010:8).

In order to provide a successful and efficient community police service, the officers make touch

with the people they serve in a well-defined beat or region. It is understood that the police cannot

impose order on the community from without, but it is nonetheless important to promote the idea

that the police are a resource that may be used to address current community issues. Community

policing is a commitment to offering local communities a decentralized and individualized police

service. Decentralized organization and power are thus another tenet of community policing.

18
The ability to contribute to decision-making considerably increases. This gives both individual

officials and civilians more power and gives them access to decision-making.

2.5 Organizational Strategy and Philosophy

Community policing is a philosophy, or a method of thinking, as well as an organizational strategy,

or a means of putting the concept into practice. 'The idea of community policing based on the

belief that people deserve input into the police process, in exchange for their involvement and

support,' claim Trojanowicz & Bucqueroux (2010:1). It also based on the conviction that, in order

to find answers to today's community issues, individuals and the police must be freed to consider

innovative, fresh approaches that go beyond a narrow emphasis on particular crime episodes.

2.5.1 Vision

The community police consortium defines a vision as a hypothetical and ideally suited future for

the law enforcement organization and its neighborhood. An optimistic vision of a realistic,

believable, and alluring future condition that is superior to the present is projected (A stair case to

strategic planning, 2005).

2.5.2 Equity

The principle of equity in the delivery of police service, according to Trojanowicz and Bucqueroux

(2010), "recognizes that all citizens will receive efficient, effective and respectful police service

regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, income, sexual preferences, and other

differences."

19
2.5.3 Trust

The cornerstone of successful community policing is trust between the police and the community,

according to the Community Policing Consortium (Police Integrity, 2005). The prevalence of

corruption and power abuse can damage the police's reputation in their community. Community

policing provides the police a name and a face so that the community may feel comfortable

working with and trusting the police. The basis for cooperation between the police and community

is trust, which lowers mistrust between people and policeThis concept is the first to require that all

members of the police department civilians as well as officers look into methods to put the idea of

power sharing into action. It gives police officers discretion and freedom to make decisions about

their allocated beats (Trojanowicz et al., 2012). It also requires early analysis of crime trends,

patterns, demographic realities, social, economic, and social concerns, as well as their effects on

crime and social disorder, in order to anticipate potential crimes and potential risks to social

disorder. Priority areas are determined, and with community engagement, collaborative strategic

plans are created.

2.5.4 Legality, Responsibility, and Ethics

Community policing suggests a new agreement between the police and the people they protect.

This agreement limits the action or behavior of vigilantism and restrains any inclination toward it,

providing hope for overcoming pervasive apathy (Trojanowicz & Bucqueroux, 2012). The police

may be able to act as a catalyst in challenging people to embrace their share of responsibility for

their overall quality of life given the new relationship's foundation of mutual trust and respect.

20
Additionally, the police and the community should share responsibility and decision-making with

regard to safety and security requirements, as well as maintain a consistent commitment

(Trojanowicz & Bucqueroux, 2012).

2.5.5 Expanding Police Authority

The only social control organization that is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and

365 days a year is the police. The police must continue to be able to react quickly to emergencies

and criminal occurrences. Community policing, on the other hand, modifies the impact of the

police. As a result, community policing has a higher potential to influence changes that, if

implemented today, will make communities safer and more desirable places to live in the future.

The focus on crime control has expanded the police department's mandate beyond the simple

prevention of crime and maintaining community security. Additionally, the police make an effort

to resolve social issues in the neighborhood and raise the general standard of living there.

Assistance to Special Needs Individuals The focus of community policing is finding innovative

ways to safeguard and improve the lives of those who belong to the most vulnerable groups that

require particular care. Among them are children, the elderly, people of color, the impoverished,

the disabled, and the homeless. It incorporates earlier outreach initiatives like crime prevention

and police community interactions while also broadening its coverage (Trojanowicz &

Bucqueroux, 2012). Reaffirmation of the Police's Authority Oliver discovers that in community

policing, the community validates the sources of police authority through local community leaders.

The community's involvement helps to ensure agreement on the validity and impact of police

(2008). It significantly affects how well community policing works and how the community's

priorities are determined through consultation.

21
Since problem solving should be based on a consultative strategy that continuously attempts to

enhance responsiveness to identify and prioritize community needs (Stevens & Yach, 2007), the

police consult the community about choices and recommendations to solve problems.

2.6 Problem-Focused Approach

The handling of crime prevention factors was emphasized in the development of this strategy.

Every crime committed in a community is looked into, and the most practical and proactive

solutions are used to address the issues. A fundamental principle is the use of creativity and

invention in the application of methods and procedures. According to Oliver (2008), this approach

uses techniques including specialized patrols, satellite stations, assigning members to certain

locations, and more flexible shifts. A more effective and efficient policing system is balanced

action community policing. Between preventative and curative responses to crime and disorder, a

constant balance is maintained (Oliver, 2008).

It is sometimes questioned whether police operations are proactive or reactive with regard to

crimes, and whether such crimes may be averted through routine, everyday policing or only

through police entrapment, informants, surveillance, and participation, according to Naudé and

Stevens (2008). In this situation, proactive and reactive policing are both necessary to effectively

combat offenses. Information management: In community policing, information is gathered from

the local population. It must be used since the work of the police is doomed to failure without the

information from the community. Through frequent interactions with the community, community

policing helps the public see the policeman as a friend, which in turn helps the officer get to know

his neighborhood.

22
Police can then be guaranteed that neighborhood members are freely sharing crucial information

about crimes. Communication must be prompt, thorough, and straightforward (Oliver, 2008).

2.6.1 Information management

In community policing, information is gathered from the local population. It must be used since

the work of the police is doomed to failure without the information from the community. Through

frequent interactions with the community, community policing helps the public see the policeman

as a friend, which in turn helps the officer get to know his neighborhood. Police can then be

guaranteed that neighborhood members are freely sharing crucial information about crimes. Direct,

thorough, and timely communication are required (Oliver, 2008).

2.6.2 Career Generalist

One tenet of community policing is the requirement that police officers be capable of handling a

range of duties within the police force. By empowering them to assume responsibility and authority

for a variety of tasks, it enables police officers to become career generalists as opposed to

specialists (Oliver, 2008:6). A police officer must be a career generalist who gets to know the

people in the neighborhood at every stage of growth (Stevens & Yach, 2007).

2.7 Community policing Components

The following fundamental concepts, which make up the community-policing philosophy, should

be noted in order to comprehend community policing. Cordner provides the following summary

of them (Segrave & Ratcliffe, 2004).

23
2.7.1 Administrative Components

According to Segrave and Ratcliffe (2004), the community policing approach is carried out with

the assistance of a number of key components. These components are adopted, including

philosophy. According to Segrave and Ratcliffe (2004), the philosophical components are essential

to the implementation of community policing because without an understanding of and

commitment to the principles underlying it, both the implementation and the potential benefits

available will be constrained. Segrave and Ratcliffe (2004) list the following as philosophical

components:

2.7.2 The community is the top priority for police work, and the community has a significant

impact in helping to identify crimes and other safety issues. Accountability for field officers and

decentralized decision-making are essential. They are given more power to solve issues, but they

must also take responsibility for their actions. The Bahil Adarash Police Department organized the

people and established a community policing structure that goes from the household level to the

sub city community policing advisory council, which is useful in maintaining accountability and

close ties with the community in order to fix geographical accountability.

2.7.4 Collaboration with the Government and other Organizations

Government and other entities are required to acknowledge their capacities to respond to and

address concerns with crime and social disorder in community policing. Police must form alliances

with other governmental agencies, people, community leaders, business owners, schools, non-

governmental organizations, other service providers, and criminal justice organizations in order to

flourish. Everyone is seen as an equal partner. They all collaborate to raise the standard of living

in the neighborhood (South Africa, 2012).

24
Many police agencies have public advisory boards that provide guidance and support for putting

into practice successful tactics to lower crime and disturbance, alter attitudes, and promote positive

participation. These organizations make an effort to have a diversified membership that includes

representatives from nearby businesses, churches, community organizations, youth organizations,

local governments, and law enforcement.

2.8 Advantages of Community Police

The advantages of community policing are as follows. It is defined as the peculiarities of the

community and the police and the shared advantages of the community-policing method. The

ability to solve issues through a collaboration between the police and the community is essential

to the success of community policing (Ziembo-Vogl & Woods, 2011). The following researchers'

works provide a summary of the advantages of community policing: Whines and Ferguson (2002).

Police organizations in general and personnel in particular gain when community policing is

successfully implemented. A greater public perception of police legitimacy, an increase in officers'

job satisfaction, a greater awareness of community problems that would enable the police to

develop more effective responses, better use of personnel, and a realistic acknowledgement of

police functions are all desirable. A recognition of the interrelationship between police functions,

the police's limited ability to carry out their duties, and the value of a partnership with the public.

Through neighborhood watch programs, citizens can assist police in maintaining public safety.

Members of the neighborhood watch are trained on how to organize specific regions and on how

to communicate with the police and their neighbors. Another approach for local government and

law enforcement to interact with community stakeholders, business owners, and church groups is

during community meetings.

25
At these gatherings, locals can interact with police officers to discuss neighborhood problems and

foster a friendly, cooperative relationship. A significantly increased use of the knowledge the

police have acquired about the patrol area. on how to respond to incidents in the most effective

way. Accountability, individualized police service, and community organization are all

guaranteed. It is empowered and mobilized to recognize issues and address them.

A more accurate acknowledgement of police duties, improved police-community relations, a

greater sense of police legitimacy in the community, an increase in officers' job satisfaction, a

greater awareness of community problems that would help the police come up with more effective

solutions, a more efficient use of personnel, and a significantly increased use of the information

the police have learned about the patrol area; an understanding of the interdependence of police

functions, the limitations of the police in carrying out their tasks, and the significance of a

partnership between the police and the public.

2.8.1 Evaluation Standards for Community Policing Success

The performance of community policing efforts can be measured or evaluated using three key

factors, according to Palmiotto (2000:257). Effectiveness relates to the standard of police service

delivery as well as customer satisfaction. Oliver stated that focusing on resolving community

issues, how the community and police collaborate, and the degree of consumer happiness are all

examples of good measurements (Oliver 2004:337). Messe (quoted in Palmiotto, 2000:257)

contends that in order to assess the success of a community policing strategy, it is critical to gauge

the expected results. The reduction of crime on a national level, the lowering of crime-related

anxiety among the populace, and an improvement in community quality of life are all aspects of

efficacy.

26
Secondary crime prevention is community or neighbourhood-oriented when it aims to address

particular risk factors associated with criminal motivation and community involvement in crime

(Pelser, 2002:4). It may be fruitful to orient prevention activities from the viewpoint of the victim

rather than the potential offender. Any technique that assists in the elimination of potential victims

or targets would offer insight into the where and when of prevention efforts. It also helps to prevent

crime by identifying and predicting problem areas and potential offenders and trying to prevent

these proactively (Lab, 2004:177). It is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the local

problem-solving solutions. activities in addition to criminal conduct makes it less alluring for

potential offenders (Lab, 2004:25 6; 178). According to Lab (2004:175, 233, and 251) and Pelser

(2002:3), secondary crime prevention involves: predicting and locating the locations, occasions,

and victims of offenders; establishing neighborhood- or community-focused preventative actions,

with forecasting and evaluation of populations at risk; targeting particular issues, locations, people,

or things as a situational crime prevention strategy; Utilizing leisure and community mediation to

focus on risk groups, hotspots, or causes of conflict within the community; assisting people at risk

of offending, particularly youngsters and the unemployed; and introducing drug abuse prevention

programs in schools.

2.8.2 Prevention of Secondary Crime

Tertiary prevention deals with the real offenders and involves intervention so that offenders won't

commit more crime. The criminal justice system's operations account for the majority of tertiary

prevention. Arrests, prosecutions, incarcerations, and rehabilitation are all tertiary preventive

efforts (Lab, 2012). It mostly takes place inside the boundaries of the established legal system.

27
Implementing sanctions against the person in the hopes of specific deterrence in order to prevent

a specific person from committing crimes in the future after the punishment has ended, specific

deterrence entails imposing sanctions on the offender. Incapacitation normally examines the

decrease in crime that can be directly linked to the confinement duration. Crime control, crime

prevention, and problem solving are regarded as the core responsibilities of community-oriented

police forces. In order to avoid and address criminal issues, agencies implementing community-

oriented policing have decentralized, task-oriented organizational designs that utilize matrix

architectures, the police have a consultative connection with the outside world in which they

uphold legal and professional standards while also taking the concerns of the public.

2.8.3 Importance to the Communities

Following are some advantages for a community engaged in community policing initiatives: It is

dedicated to reducing crime. It concentrates on the best ways to respond to situations.

Accountability, individualized police service, and community organization are all guaranteed. It is

empowered and mobilized to recognize issues and address them. As they are prioritized and dealt

with, it sees a decrease in difficulties and matters of concern. Locally, the physical and social

environment have improved. Positive community opinions about police are rising there. It has less

of a fear of criminal activity. The philosophy of community policing encourages interactions

between residents of the community and police officers outside of the context of dealing with

crimes. This increases engagement overall, but more significantly, it increases interaction that is

productive.

28
The premise is simple: when citizens who have only ever interacted with law enforcement in regard

to criminal activity are given the option to interact with their neighborhood police officers in other

contexts, interpersonal relationships are forged and neighborhood relations are enhanced.

2.8.4 Importance to the Community and Police

According to many academics, like Whisenand and Ferguson (2002:207) and Dempsey

(1999:234), community and police cooperate on the basis of community policing principles. Due

to their strong relationship, they may experience the following advantages: Reduced likelihood of

police-citizen confrontation, lower crime rates, improved communication between the police and

the community, and better implementation of crime prevention and crime control measures

because both parties are collaborating to achieve a common objective. Officer morale has suffered

greatly as a result of the public perception of policing, and many professionals have begun to doubt

the profession's future and their place in it. However, chiefs note that morale is frequently stronger

and probably less affected by national trends in police departments where officers feel supported

by their community. This is due to the fact that community policing fosters more opportunities for

open, visible expressions of support from the community, which is something that police can

appreciate and is excellent for relations.

Citizens' ability to influence the standard of living in their neighborhood is increased via

community policing. Police become a member of the community when community policing is

used. This increases residents' faith in the police and helps the police better understand the needs

of the community.

29
 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

The research methodology on how community policing affects the safety of people and property

in Bwari Local Government is covered in this chapter. The following subheadings are used to

present the research methods for this study in this chapter:

1. Study of Population Research Design Variable

2. Methodology for Samples and Sampling

3. Instrument for research

4. The instrument's legitimacy

5. Administration of the Instrument's Reliability

6. Instrument Process Scoring for Data Analysis

7. Trustworthiness of the Test

3.2 Research Design

A key tool for data collection was the questionnaire. While the primary instrument is Survey

research. When the respondents couldn't read or write, the interview method was utilized based on

the questionnaire until the necessary number of respondents were interviewed. A systematic

random sample procedure was used to select 200 respondents for the study.

30
3.3 Research Population

Two hundred (200) individuals were carefully and randomly selected as the target population for

this study. Residents of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja maekup this

study. The area is bordered by the Municipal Area Council and by Gwagwalada Area. Council.

Bwari has a total population of over 1.3 million people, and it is native to the Gbagyi.

Hence, out of 200 surveys sent out, only 196 were returned. The questionnaire solicited

information on questions that were relevant to the community policing on crime prevention in

Bwari local government areas.

3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique

There were various types of regular business owners and household all around the research area.

The administration, distribution, and interviewing of everyone is difficult. As a result, the

researcher specifically selected trustworthy humble and literate at Bwari and its premises. The

study area was specifically chosen because there hasn't been any local research on the topic. The

respondents were given specific instructions to ensure that they understood the questions and

provided accurate answers. The researcher checks the validity and reliability of the sampling and

the sample process.

3. 5 Research Instrument

A questionnaire created by the researcher and approved by my supervisor served as the primary

study instrument utilized to collect data. There are two components to the survey. The

demographic information about the respondents, including their age, gender, and so on, was

covered in Section A. The section B has 20 questions that are constructed statements encompassing

31
all areas of the research that were scored on a 4-point scale of Strongly Agreed=SA, Agreed=A,

Disagreed=D, and Strongly Disagreed=SD. The responders are supposed to check the box next to

the answer they believe best fits the statement in each item.

3.6 Validity of the Instrument

This researcher took considerable attention while planning the data collection techniques used in

these investigations, particularly when selecting or creating study equipment. The data acquired

will determine whether or not this study is successful, hence the measuring devices used to get the

data are important tools. The researcher makes sure that the tools measure what they are meant to

measure, therefore the instruments utilized in this study are precise and trustworthy.

3.7 Reliability of the Instrument

The researcher conducted a pilot study to make sure the test instrument was reliable and

consistent. Twenty community members who were not included in the initial sample utilized for

the study but were randomly chosen from the general public to participate in the pilot study. The

experimenter employed a test-retest strategy. This entails giving the questionnaires to respondents

who weren't included in the study's original sample. To determine the consistency of the test

instrument, the same tests were again given to the same residents again a week later.

3.8 Procedure for data collection

Paper questionnaire research survey is the research method used to obtain the precise data needed

for this study. It ensures qualitative and quantitative information's from a pre-defined set of

respondents in order to gain insights on various interest-related concerns. The design, logic, and

dissemination of questionnaires and survey approaches to respondents in both open-ended and

32
closed-ended subjective or objective are all part of the process of collecting and analyzing that

data.

3.9 Method of Data Analysis

Using questionnaire, data obtained from this study were descriptively analyzed, cross-tabulation

is employed for data analysis along with sample size calculation. The application of statistical

analysis techniques allowed data to be tabulated into simple rows and columns, which made it

easier to draw comparisons between various study criteria and reliable data presentation.

33
 CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Introduction

This chapter includes the findings and an analysis of the information gathered using the distributed

questionnaire. In order to verify the study questions, the data was employed. To do this, data were

analyzed using a descriptive statistical method that made use of means, percentages, and frequency

counts was employed to validate the hypotheses.

4.2 Research question 1:

Table 1; Does Bwari LGA have provisions for community policing?

S/N Statements Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Total

Agree Disagree
1 In Bwari LGA, the deployment of 100 34 50 16 200
vigilante groups is a component of (50%) (17%) (25%) (8%)
community policing.
2 To reach the communities, a joint force 27 103 37 33 200
patrol arrangement is available. (13.5%) (51.5%) (18.5%) (16.5%)
3 Using of local security guards or agents 50 110 35 5 200
(25%) (55%) (17.5%) (2.5%)
4 Community policing is improved when 68 102 22 8 200
security personnel are given basic (34%) (51%) (11%) (4%)
security equipment.

The replies of the community policing options offered in Bwari LGA are shown in Table 2.

According to the table, 134 (67%) of the respondents acknowledged that vigilante groups are used

as part of community policing in Bwari, while 66 (33%) disagreed with this statement. Also, 130

respondents (65%) agreed that joint force patrol arrangements are accessible to reach the

communities as part of Bwari community policing regulations, while the remaining 70 respondents

(35%) disagreed. The outcome of question 4 reveals that 160 respondents, or 80% of the total,

agreed that local security guards are employed as part of community policing efforts, while 40
34
respondents, or 20% of the total, disagreed. Last but not least, the majority of respondents 170

(85%) believe that giving security guards access to basic security equipment improves community

policing, whereas 30 (25%) hold other opinions. Everyone in the Bwari LGA has three key

expectations and objectives: creating community relationships, solving problems, and putting

community policing organizational elements into practice. The Nigeria Police Force is making

every effort, despite the fact that the standard is insufficient. The study question one on the

provision of standard community security in Bwari LGA is addressed by bringing the police closer

to the people at the local level, which will aid in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians at

all levels.

4.3 Research Question 2:

Table 2: How well has community policing answered Bwari LGA concerns regarding the security

of people and property?

S/N Statements Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Total

Agree disgree
1 The effectiveness of community 33 76 89 2 200
policing in reducing crime (16.5%) (38%) (44.5%) (1%)
2 The interaction between locals and 50 88 33 29 200
security organizations has improved as (25%) (44%) (16.5%) (14.5%)
a result of community policing as a
crime-reduction tactic.
3 Community policing has helped to 107 45 13 35 200
lessen street brawls and thuggery. (53.5%) (22.5%) (6.5%) (17.5%)
4 Residents have found it easier to 35 18 68 79 200
resolve disputes among themselves (17.5%) (9%) (34%) (39.5%)
thanks to community policing.

In a similar vein, slightly more than half of the respondents—109 (54.5%)—admitted that

community policing has improved crime reduction in Bwari LGA, while 91 (45.5%) disagreed

35
with the claim. Community policing has strengthened relationships between locals and security

agencies, according to 138 (69%) of the respondents, whereas 62 (31%) of the respondents

disagreed with the claim. On issue 3, the majority of 152 respondents (76%) agreed that

community policing has helped to reduce street violence and thuggery, while just 48 respondents

(24%) disagree. Lastly, just 53 (26.5%) of respondents agreed with the claim that community

policing has assisted citizens in resolving conflicts of interest, while 147 (73.5%) disagreed. In

conclusion, it can be concluded that the majority of respondents believed that community policing

has assisted in lowering crime issues in the neighborhood and state at large.

It is clear from the data provided for research question two that by involving the general people in

homeland security, Bwari community policing can help to ensure that accurate information is

disseminated and that residents have the skills and information necessary to keep their

neighborhoods safe.

4.3 Research Question 3:

Table 3: How visible and practical is community policing in Bwari LGA?

S/N Statement Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Total

Agree Disagree
1 To combat crime in the state, there are 93 36 59 12 200
enough security lights in the (46.5%) (18%) (29.5%) (6%)
neighborhood.
2 Criminals are frightened away from the 40 88 33 39 200
area by the presence of trained and (20%) (44%) (16.5%) (19.5%)
armed security guards.
3 Creation of a police station or 107 45 13 35 200
community police presence in and (53.5%) (22.5%) (6.5%) (17.5%)
around the neighborhood.
4 Information exchange between Nigerian 36 67 56 41 200
police and local police guards. (18%) (33.5%) (28%) (20.5%)

36
The responses of the respondents about the presence and visibility of community policing in Bwari

LGA are displayed in Table 3. According to the results from the table, 129 respondents (64.5% of

the total) agreed that pupils might derive conclusions from the reading passage, while 71

respondents (35.5% of the total) disagreed. Again, 128 (64%) of respondents said that the presence

of trained and armed security personnel aids in deterring criminals from the region, while 72 (36%)

disagreed. While the remaining respondents do not share this opinion, 152 (76%) of the

respondents admitted that erecting police posts and community police posts around and within the

community. The data in the table above also shows that 103 respondents, or 51.5%, agreed that

information exchange between local police guards and the Nigerian police force is evident in police

operations. The chart indicates that the majority of respondents agreed that community policing is

somewhat apparent in Bwari Local Government, Abuja.

Research Question 3 has demonstrated that community policing in Bwari covers a variety of crime

reduction measures as well as improved trust between citizens and law enforcement that

maximizes good interactions between patrol officers and community members. Community

policing is a notion that has been practiced for many years in the US and UK, but it wasn't

introduced to Nigeria until 2004. In order for the police to adapt to a democratic form of

government, this policing method has been adopted into contemporary policing.

4.5 Summary of the Findings

Following data analyses conducted for this study, the following conclusions were made:

1. The provision of community policing and the safety of people and property in the Bwari

LGA are significantly correlated.

37
2. Community policing initiatives and the management and prevention of crime in Bwari are

significantly related.

3. In Bwari LGA, there is a strong correlation between the adult education program and the

community police's requirement for personnel.

4. Effective community policing has a substantial impact on the safety of people and property

in Bwari.

38
 CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Discussion of the Findings

According to the study's findings, community policing in Bwari has contributed to stabilizing the

security of people and property in Bwari Local Government. This result is consistent with

Morgan's earlier work from 2006, which claimed that community policing has become a

significant problem in several nations, including Nigeria. The amount of crime in our

neighborhoods has been reduced thanks to the deployment of jobless teenagers for security duties

and the installation of security equipment like street lights, alarms, and security gates. Also, raiding

criminal hideouts has shown to be a successful method of combating crime in my area.

Similar results from hypothesis two indicate a substantial positive association between community

policing and crime prevention and management in Bwari LGA, Abuja. Community policing

improves coordination between law enforcement and community members, lowering the

likelihood of violence and law and order violations in local areas. A stance that was backed up by

John (2012), who ascribed the relative peace practiced by some communities in the rural parts of

Oyo state to cooperation between local residents, vigilante groups, and law enforcement.

Lastly, the study showed that effective protection of lives and property in the Bwari Logal

Government is significantly influenced by viable, visible community policing. This finding is

consistent with the work of Uzor (2001), who promoted viable/visible community policing as the

only strategy for quickly resolving Nigeria's security issues. This means that the first element of

community policing should focus on building and sustaining mutual trust between community

members and the police because this is the only approach to address our existing security issues.

39
5.2 Conclusion

According to this study, community policing can be used to close the significant gap in the

protection of people and property in Bwari LGA, & Nigeria in general. This is a call to action for

all parties involved to promote close cooperation between the police and the public, which will

decrease police-citizen conflict, lower crime rates, improve information flow between the police

and the community, better implement crime prevention and crime control measures because both

parties are working toward a common objective, and also assist in reducing widespread corruption

in the Nigerian police force, which fuels abuses against the public.

5.3 Recommendation

The following recommendations were made in light of the investigation's findings:

1. Adult Education Departments in Nigeria Universities should get in touch with the Nigerian

police and community leaders to design a program for manpower development that would

strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian police and the communities where they are stationed

in terms of community relations.

2. There is a need for increased understanding of the importance of viable, visible community

policing in Nigerian society among all parties involved in crime management and control,

including the police, the media, community leaders, NGOs, etc.

3. For efficient protection of lives and property in Bwari Local Government, Nigerian police

must collaborate with locals. In order to decrease the recent requests for state police,

government and policy makers should think about methods to strengthen community

policing capabilities in Nigeria and among Nigerian police forces.

40
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