Public Order Policing During Crisis: A Critical Analysis of Police Response in Crises Affected Areas in Ethiopia

Abstract

Policing is the foundation of a strong state that realizes peace, order, and stability for its citizens. This study attempted to explore public order policing; police response to public disorder in some selected crisis-affected areas in Ethiopia. The study used a qualitative approach with an exploratory research design. Purposive and snowball sampling was employed to select participants for the study. Data were collected through interviews, Focus Group Discussion/FGD, observation, and document review techniques. Regarding participants of the study, 33 key informants from government officials (including prosecutors, experts from peace and security offices in the regions, Human Rights Commission officers, journalists, and police), 20 in-depth interviews with victims and their families, religious and community leaders; and 8 FGDs were conducted with police officers, victims, and community/religious leaders. The data of the study were thematically analyzed. The findings of the study showed that the Police did not play a proactive role because of many factors such as waiting for an order from a higher commandant/ government official, and political infiltration of police officers that immersed them in tricky of partiality. Hence, the crisis resulted in socio-political, economic, and psychological problems in the community of crisis-affected areas. The study concluded that police had minimal preparedness and hence were not successful in managing, preventing, minimizing, or stopping damages. Therefore, police organizations must always do security threat assessments to proactively handle damages due to crises; exercise an empowered decentralized chain of command during a crisis, raise the level of awareness to police officers regarding the police profession, and provide an immediate response to public calls.