A SOCIOLGICAL ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY- ORIENTED POLICING IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL, NIGERIA.
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Abstract
The main objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the strategies being adopted in community-oriented policing towards reducing crime in Abuja. The methodology adopted for this study consisted of survey, questionnaire were used to collect data from 400 respondents, comprising police personnel and members of the public. Additionally, unstructured oral interviews with key police officers and community elders were also used. Two theories are adopted for this study, they Left Realist and Broken Window, because of their relevance to the phenomenon. These theories believe that all delinquents’ behavior should be attended to, in order to avoid criminal act in the nearest future, through effective collaboration and participation between the police and the public to reduce crime rate in Abuja. Findings of the study revealed that inspite of adopting the community-oriented policing strategies since 2004, the level of awareness of its existence and collaboration in the community was very low. This resulted in lack of crime reduction in Abuja Municipal Area Council. The study also discovered the following: lack of awareness of community-oriented policing strategy, lack of police public cordial relationship, inadequate funding, and misconception of the core value of community-oriented policing. The aforementioned findings were the major factors that hindered effective Implementation of community-oriented policing strategies. This implies that the core value of Community-oriented policing which is a police- public partnership effort in crime reduction was yet to be achieved. The study recommends therefore, that government and all the stakeholders should provide sufficient management mechanisms for information and feedback for the effective management of community-oriented policing strategy. It also recommends a constructive awareness and synergy between the police and the public. It is hope that creativity and understanding that will break down barriers of mistrust between the police and the public so that meaningful partnership can be forged. Thus, this will help to foster the implementation of community-oriented policing in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Nigeria in general.