Utilization of Public Relations In Crime Prevention By The Nigerian Police Force In Makurdi Metropolis

The paper is an assessment of the use of public relations for crime prevention by the (Nigerian Police in Makurdi Metropolis.Survey research design was adopted, while | questionnaire was used as the instrument of date collection. The findings showed that I the Nigerian Police Force in Makurdi uses public relations in diverse ways in a bid to preventing crime; these range from liaising with members of the public about the im- plications of committing crimes, organizing events to showcase the negative effects of I crimes on members of the public especially on the youths, holding talks with stake- holders and other security agencies and advising them on how best to monitor the neg- ative activities of people among others. The researcher concluded that the use of public relations by the Nigerian Police Force, Makurdi, has always helped in achieving a sound mutual understanding between the management of organizations and their publics as the planned programmes of actions are been delivered as a way of achieving efficiency amongst all parties even as in the case of the Nigerian Police and their publics. Hence, it was recommended that the Nigerian Police Force should as a matter of urgency expand on their usage of public relations in dealing with the publics' especially the youths who at various times are caught in acts of crimes.