Community Policing Involvement in the Fight Against Narcotics Use Among Youth in Rwanda

Abstract

This study aimed to ascertain the implication of community policing in the fight against narcotics use among youth in Rwanda. It was guided by three specific objectives: to assess community policing involvement in decision-making against narcotics use among youth, to evaluate community policing inclusivity in the fight against narcotics use among youth, and to examine community policing capacity to fight against narcotic use among youth. The study employed a descriptive research design. The mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative was used to collect quantitative data using a questionnaire to 124 respondents and qualitative data by use of focus group. A sample size of 292 respondents was calculated using the Slovin’s Formula. The sample size was selected using purposeful sampling method among Police members, Kicukiro District officials, Community Policing Members, narcotics users in the rehabilitation process or rehabilitated, and partners. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics by the help of SPSS 21.0 version and descriptive data visualization tools employed in forms frequency tables and cross tabulations. The descriptive results of the objectives indicated a big number of respondents agreed that community policing is involved in decision-making against narcotics use among youth and they agreed that community policing is inclusive in the Kicukiro District. However, the respondents disagreed that community policing has enough capacity to fight against narcotics use among youth. The correlation analysis results supported the descriptive results by revealing that community policing involvement in decision-making, the inclusivity of community policing and its capacity play a positive and significant role in the fight against narcotics use among youth. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended to government of Rwanda and partners to improve the effectiveness of community policing involvement in the fight against narcotics use among youth by arising its capacity in terms of financial resources, equipment, skilled human resources, and sustainable technology. Keywords: Community Policing Involvement, Narcotics Use, Youth, Rwanda