Community Policing Research Articles

Egbé and Kánàkò traditional hunting methods: Implications for community policing and women’s involvement in socio-economic sustainability in South West Nigeria

Over the years, Nigerian society has the belief that given the potency of kánàkò (collision of time and space) and egbé (teleportation), it can only be applied by men while neglecting the role of women in its application for national safety. The study examines egbé and kánako and implications for community policing and women’s involvement in socio-economic sustainability in South West Nigeria. Three research questions were raised and answered to guide this study. The study adopts the qualitative research approach anchored on ethnographic research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 36 participants from six (6) communities in Ógun, Oyó, and Osun states. Recordings, observations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were used to gather qualitative data. Findings from the study revealed that egbé and kánàkò could be useful for military and paramilitary agencies if appropriately implemented to ensure community policing and national safety, amongst others. The study recommends, amongst others, that the hunters’ association and government should properly sensitize women in the hunting profession on their role to enhance the preservation of these traditional means of fortifications and not become weapons that will render these fortifications irrelevant.

Police officers' perception of community support for policing: implications for well-being

PurposeCommunity-police relations have gained increasing public attention during the past decade. The purpose of the present study was to better understand the relationship between perceived community support and police officer burnout and engagement.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered via online survey from 117 officers from a city police department in the Southeastern United States.FindingsCommunity support was negatively correlated with burnout and positively correlated with engagement. Moreover, multiple regression analyses showed that community support explained significant incremental variance in most dimensions of burnout and engagement, above and beyond demographic factors and community stressors. Qualitative results showed that police officers had mixed perceptions of how they were viewed by the general public, with more negative than positive responses. However, officers felt more positively perceived in their own communities, but concerns were raised that national events affected the perceptions of officers even in positive relationships with their communities. Finally, officers felt that public perceptions impacted their job satisfaction, job performance and personal lives.Practical implicationsThe results have practical implications for how to encourage positive interactions between officers and their community, with recommendations for both law enforcement leaders and civilians.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few that highlights the officers' perspective on how public perceptions affect their work. This is important in understanding how to maximize quality community interactions while minimizing conditions that would increase burnout.

Teachers' Lived Experiences of Workplace Violence and Harassment Committed by Learners from Selected High Schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Despite several studies on learner-to-teacher workplace violence and harassment, the problem persists in some South African schools. Learner-to-teacher violence and harassment is a form of workplace violence and harassment, as schools are workplaces for teachers. Learner-to-teacher violence and harassment is therefore an important occupational health and safety issue for teachers. Employers are obliged to provide a safe working environment for teachers to enable quality teaching and learning in schools. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of high school teachers who have been targets of workplace violence and harassment perpetrated by learners at selected schools in Limpopo Province of South Africa. Many teachers were willing to share their lived experiences but, due to data saturation, only eleven participated after being selected through purposive sampling from seven high schools under a chosen sub-district. The research ethics of voluntary participation, informed consent, ethical clearance, and gatekeeper permission were observed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide. The interviews were audio-taped, and field notes were also taken. Voice recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis into themes and sub-themes. The findings were confirmed by an independent coder to achieve trustworthiness. Teachers experienced physical workplace violence and harassment, verbal workplace violence and harassment, and nonverbal workplace violence and harassment from learners. Learner-to-teacher workplace violence and harassment affects teachers emotionally, and in turn, affects the quality of teaching and learning in schools. Some teachers propose the involvement of a community policing forum, the strengthening of schools' governing bodies, and reducing overcrowding in classrooms as possible solutions to deal with learner-to-teacher workplace violence and harassment.

Digital policing in Nigeria: A study of Jigawa State Police Command

The application of digital technologies in police practices can engender a number of benefits, which include round-the-clock surveillance, intelligence collection (in real time), community policing (through regular online briefings and trust-building by policing agencies) and disruption of crimes, among others. This study used situational crime prevention theory and examined the use, benefits and challenges of digital policing in Jigawa State Police Command, Nigeria. A sample of 230 respondents was utilized in the study. From the sample, 215 police personnel were administered questionnaires, and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with 5 police personnel, 5 information technology professionals and 5 policing scholars. The study revealed that use of digital technologies in police practice is low in Jigawa State, because the study discovered insufficient digital technologies in the police command. Furthermore, the majority of police personnel sampled were not skilled in information and communications technologies. No doubt, poor use of digital technologies may pose a serious setback to crime prevention in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that the police should acquire and leverage on emerging policing technologies. Police personnel should be given adequate training and retraining on the use of digital technologies. Collaboration and information sharing with relevant agencies should also be improved.

The effectiveness of community policing forum in crime prevention

The National Peace Accord, signed by all major political parties in 1991, created various structures through which police accountability could be sought. In 1993, the Interim Constitution of South Africa Act 200 of 1993 formalized the establishment of the Community Police Forum (CPF) at police stations. The SAPS Act 68 of 1995 made a formal provision for a partnership between the police and the community in fulfilling the needs of the community regarding policing. CPF aims to ensure police accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in the community, promoting cooperation between the service and the community in fulfilling the community's needs regarding policing and promoting communication between the police and the community. It was established to maintain a partnership between the police and the communities, to jointly identify priorities and solve problems related to crime, disorder, fear, poor police-community relations and service delivery. Therefore, the police's new vision of policing was introduced by setting up CPF at police stations throughout the country. The implementation of community policing through CPFs has brought to bear the complexity, dynamics, and of social and political relationships at both the provincial and local levels. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CPF in crime prevention. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed, and data were collected from 40 community members through face-to-face survey interviews. The research revealed that CPF is ineffective in reducing crime due to the lack of resources to support its functioning. The study recommends proper and frequent communication between the police, CPF and the broader community.

Do police stations deter crime?

PurposeThe introduction of community policing led to a significant increase in the number of police stations, particularly in urban settings. Police stations are largely assumed to have an impact on crime but there are few studies dedicated to the issue.MethodsThe concept of deterrence suggests a negative relationship between police and crime: an increased police presence should lead to a reduction of crime. While it is difficult to directly test that relationship, the present study takes advantage of two recent events in Montreal (Canada) to test the hypothesis that the closure of a police station causes an increase of crime in the surrounding area. Andresen’s Spatial point pattern tests and Wheeler and Ratcliffe’ weight displacement difference tests were conducted.FindingsWhile tests suggest that crime geographic patterns were dissimilar pre- and post-closure, none of those differences support the deterrence hypothesis because the number of areas in which an increase in crime was recorded is lower than would be expected by chance. Similarly, decreases in breaking and entering, mischief, theft in or on vehicles and total crime were found, which does not support the deterrence hypothesis.ConclusionsThe study of hotspot policing led to the belief that police presence needs to be concentrated in both time and space if it is to have a significant preventive impact on crime. It also led to the development of strategies of concentrated policing that encompass a variety of prevention actions aimed at specific individuals, specific crime types, and/or specific areas. Police stations provide something different: a concentrated presence at one point location with the ability to deploy to respond to any crime, at any time, in a particular area.

Rethinking community security in Uganda: Integrating community policing with intelligence-led policing

ABSTRACT Contemporary changes in crime reveal the need to enhance law enforcement methods such as Community Policing with intelligence-based approaches for sustained community–police partnerships and improved community participation in ensuring safety. Community participation and partnership with law enforcers is essential for identification of threats and vulnerabilities, collection, analysis and sharing of crime data and problem solving. Uganda’s Community Policing has since 1989 focused on image construction, trust and confidence building for the police within the community and underscoring police relevancy in a transitional democracy while crime remained steadily high. The introduction of crime preventers and Local Defence Units (LDUs) to back-up police in handling crime, patrol neighbourhoods and gather intelligence has instead attracted accusations against law enforcers for excessive use of force, human rights violations and involvement in crime. Intelligence led policing (ILP) aims at enhancing community safety based on analysed information for strategic, operational and tactical benefits in crime prevention. Using secondary sources of data, the paper argues that while Community Policing has been preferred in crime prevention, intelligence gathering for purposes of investigating and preventing crime has remained poor. It recommended that Community Policing is integrated with ILP for effective detection, prevention, management of crime and enhanced community security.

Spatial Distribution of Burglary at Residential Premises in the Newlands East Policing Precint

It is in the best interest of community members and policy makers to comprehend not only which crime prevention methods are most effective, but also where they are appropriate to apply. This study aimed at exploring the spatial distribution of burglary at residential premises in the Newlands East policing precinct. This was deemed necessary as residential burglary had been reported as the highest property-related crime in the study area for the five-year period (2015-2019) preceding the study. To ensure that the aim of this study was achieved, a qualitative research approach was utilised which assisted the researcher to focus on the spatial assessment of burglary at residential premises in the Newlands East policing precinct. Data collection was achieved by means of Focus Group Discussions and semi-structured interviews that involved a total of thirty-seven participants comprising of South African Police Service members, Community Policing Forum representatives, local Ward councillors, and ordinary community members. A set of pre-determined questions was used that enabled the researcher to explore themes and elicit responses that focused on achieving the objectives of the study. The findings of the study indicated that burglaries in the study area occurred spatially. This means that burglaries are highly concentrated at specific residential premises, particularly in the Newlands West area. The findings also indicated that various factors at local community level were instrumental in instigating this crime, and it is thus argued that SAPS and CPF members need to work collaboratively to develop strategies to curb the spatial distribution of burglaries in the study area. These findings suggest that a more concerted effort is required to forge collaboration among the government, the SAPS, and the community to effectively curb burglaries at residential premises. New evidence also highlights the role of construction/development companies as role-players in the fight against the scourge of residential burglaries.

Security beyond the state: exploring potential development impacts of community policing reform in post-conflict and fragile environment

ABSTRACT This study investigates the significance of understanding police perspectives on community policing as a means of addressing insecurity, particularly within the context of localised and asymmetrical conflicts. It highlights the pivotal role of the police in shaping community security and the substantial impact they can have (positive or negative) in fragile environments. The study contends that the localised nature of the community policing effectively addresses security and development issues and empowering citizens. Qualitative interviews were conducted with senior police in Islamabad, to assess the implementation and potential impacts of community policing in Pakistan’s Federal Capital Territory. The findings reveal how the historical foundations of police structures and operations – which date back to the colonial period – have led to the promotion of fear, mistrust and manipulation under successive regimes. Despite these challenges, the findings are promising highlighting enhanced human security through context-specific community policing. Finally, the paper argues that the movement towards community-oriented policing marks a departure from the control of elites within state systems, and encourages values such as local ownership, social cohesion, mutual engagement, accountability and agency. These developments have profound implications for global security and justice.

Front porch roll calls: an innovative approach to community-oriented policing in Saginaw, MI

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate a promising community-oriented policing strategy called “front porch roll call” (FPRC), which involves conducting roll calls in public forums.Design/methodology/approachA mixed methods approach was used by drawing on survey data, field observations and qualitative interviews to describe how FPRCs were implemented in Saginaw, MI from 2019 to 2022, and how they can be successfully implemented to operate in accordance with the theoretical foundations of community-oriented policing.FindingsSurvey data from FPRC attendees reported improvements in their perceptions of police legitimacy, trust in the police and procedural fairness—each of which are vital pathways to developing collaborative crime prevention initiatives in community-oriented policing. Qualitative interviews and field observations provided unique insights into areas of improvement and ways to enhance sustainability for future use.Originality/valueCommunity-oriented policing offers a philosophical approach to addressing crime problems through the formation of localized, collaborative solutions that come from police-community partnerships. A key implementation challenge is that such programs can fail to align their initiatives with the theoretical principles of community policing. FPRCs offer an innovative solution that operates closely with the spirit of community-oriented policing. Data from a mixed-methods evaluation provide further insights into their challenges with implementation and ways to improve upon them.

Mediated Proximity: Community Policing in the Digital Age

Mediated Proximity: Community Policing in the Digital Age

Digital Mystery: Enhanced Active Citizens’ Participation Through Information Communications Technology in Community Policing

The ubiquitous proliferation of mobile phones has made digital surveillance and monitoring both accessible and desirable. Citizens have actively engaged in managing their neighborhood security. The study aims to analyze participatory policing practices that citizens do in their neighbourhood security management and apply Information Communication Technology. To achieve the research objective, the study used mixed methods exploratory sequential design. Qualitative purposive sampling targeted four focus group discussions and one key informant guided by an interview guide. The household survey used randomly sampled 432 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 20. Qualitative data analysis follows transcribing, coding, and grouping into sub-themes, themes answering to research objectives. Results show citizens engage neighborhood patrols and they feel responsible and are satisfied with level of participation. Almost every person counts and this includes every gender in securing neighborhoods. Citizens use SMS seconded by WhatsApp and least Telephone calls for participatory activities, have revolutionized communication for (i) reporting and requesting transport on security information to police and CPF members, (ii) for organizing patrols and (iii) mobilizing help during participatory activities in the neighborhoods. ICTs have greatly enhanced citizens' participation in managing security within their neighbourhoods because they accorded real-time updates, real-time responses, and real-time capacity to access prompt assistance through virtual context. Virtual platform accorded wide formal and non-formal communication with authorities and increased social cohesion, collective efficacy and community guardianship improving prevention of crime and the arresting of suspects.

The Concept of Law Enforcement of the Crime of Theft through a Restorative Justice Approach

This research is considered important because efforts to resolve general criminal cases in Indonesia through a restorative justice approach can be realized if a regulation of material criminal law can be substantively reconstructed to provide legal certainty for justice seekers in a restorative justice manner. There was a conflict between Das Sein and Das Sollen. There are three problems raised in this dissertation research, which are about how the concept of law enforcement for criminal acts of theft through a restorative justice approach. To analyze these problems used the social legal research method. The results of this study found that the restorative justice approach is to realize the implementation of restorative justice in the settlement of general crimes with substantive legal, progressive, efficient and just powers. Reconstruction of several articles consisting of formal and material laws and regulations as well as law enforcement implementing regulations including the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Prosecutor's Office Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 15 of 2020 concerning Termination of Prosecution Based on Restorative Justice, Regulations Kapolri Number 14 of 2012 concerning Investigation Management, Kapolri Regulation Number 3 of 2015 concerning Community Policing. The concept of upholding the crime of theft through a restorative justice approach is to realize sentencing efficiency and a change in the sentencing paradigm. Looking at the phenomenon of the Indonesian judiciary which is very crowded from the accumulation of case files as an illustration of the large number of cases in this Republic, the condition of prisons that are over capacity, as well as the increasingly high state budget for financing legal proceedings.

Communal responses to burglary at residential premises in the Cato Crest informal settlement, South Africa: Implications for community policing

Communal responses to burglary at residential premises in the Cato Crest informal settlement, South Africa: Implications for community policing

OPTIMIZATION THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE IN MAINTAINING COMMUNITY SECURITY AND ORDERLINESS IN SIDOMUKTI VILLAGE

The research aims to know and describe the role and function of the Community Police in maintaining security and order in the community. This research uses an empirical juridical approach. Data collection techniques are carried out by observation, interview, and documentation studies, which then the data obtained from the research are processed using qualitative analysis methods, which then the results of the analysis are described descriptively. The results showed that the role of the Community Police in maintaining security and order in Sidomukti Village, Sukamaju District, North Luwu Regency, one of which was to overcome fights by youth groups in Sidomukti Village, namely their position as law enforcement officers (Gakkum) and as the core of Kamtibmas Coach, in this case the National Police has a duty in regulatory efforts to create security and order in the community. In addition, the role of the Police in overcoming brawls at the Bone-Bone Police Station is by conducting coaching and activities that are 1) Prefentive, such as carrying out coaching, lighting, legal counseling activities and carrying out patrols in vulnerable areas, and 2) Repressive, such as implementation in the form of enforcement of soft ones, to strict actions in the form of criminal punishment.

Fear of crime and the willingness to report crime to police: A case study of model policing in Meta-Mercado, Coatepeque, Guatemala

ABSTRACT Community-oriented policing has been a mainstay of policing over the past quarter century. In March 2019, the municipality of Coatepeque in Guatemala, with the assistance of Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, implemented a new community policing plan called Vivir y Prosperar in the Meta Mercado. Vivir y Prosperar was designed to improve security, reduce crime, and promote economic prosperity. This study utilises the pre-test, baseline and 6-months post-test, endline survey data of market vendors in the Meta Mercado to assess whether Vivir y Prosperar reduced fear of crime and increased someone’s willingness to report crime to police as tenets of community policing would anticipate. Results show that Vivir and Prosperar did not directly contribute to a decrease in fear of crime or improve one’s willingness to report crimes to the police. However, improving personal victimisation experiences, bribery payments, and other factors may indirectly promote a reduction in fear of crime and increase the willingness to report a crime among market vendors.

Digital Community-Policing Application at Muloza Border of Malawi and Mozambique in Mulanje

Information Communication Technology has created digital space to modernize citizens social networks and interaction to discuss and exchanging information. Social media has also become catalyst for citizen-police interaction to enhance security. The paper assessed Information Communication Technology applications in community policing in Malawi. Focus group discussions and key informant were used to gather qualitative data and was analysed using NVivo. Household structured questionnaire was collected and was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-Square test) in SPSS version 20. Results show most commonly used Information Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets are mobile phones dominated by basic mobile phones. Most used applications were telephone call, SMS and WhatsApp respectively. Commonly used media communication format was calls followed by pictures then videos to communicate insecurity or criminal activities by informing, sharing, warning and tracing criminal activities. The ICT applications enabled citizens to initiate dialogue with authority, deposit evidence monitored in the community. The current study focused on the ICT application and how they have enabled citizens’ participation in community policing. The study recommends future research on effectiveness, efficiency and ethics in community-policing amidst perverse applications of ICTs in Muloza and Malawi.

Policing Asian communities in the United States: a systematic literature review and discussion

PurposeThis article aims to synthesize published research on the policing of Asian communities in the United States.Design/methodology/approachThis is a systematic literature review using PRISMA 2020 guidelines.FindingsSixteen studies were reviewed. Five examined violence by police against Asian community members and reported rates for Asians closer to those against Whites than against members of other groups. One study found no relationship between violence against police and increased minority representation on the force. Four studies reported conflicting results regarding traffic stops of Asian motorists and in general perceptions of police anti-Asian bias. One study illustrated how racialization processes reproduce inequality both between racial-ethnic categories and within them. Five studies examined Asian community members’ general attitudes toward/satisfaction with police and reported—with qualifications—generally favorable attitudes and satisfaction with them.Originality/value This is the first systematic literature review of policing Asian communities in the United States.

Examining the Relationship between Anti-Black Racism, Community and Police Violence, and COVID-19 Vaccination

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged against a backdrop of long-standing racial inequities that contributed to significant disparities in COVID-19 mortality, morbidity, and eventually, vaccination rates. COVID-19 also converged with two social crises: anti-Black racism and community and police violence. The goal of this study was to examine the associations between community violence, police violence, anti-Black racism, and COVID-19 vaccination. Survey data were collected from a sample of 538 Black residents of Chicago between September 2021 and March 2022. Structural equation modeling was used to test associations between neighborhood violence, police violence, racism, medical mistrust, trust in COVID-related information, depressive symptoms, and having received a COVID-19 vaccination. In line with predictions, neighborhood violence had a significant indirect effect on vaccination via trust in COVID-related information from a personal doctor. Additionally, racism had a significant indirect effect on vaccination via trust in COVID-related information from a personal doctor, as well as via medical mistrust and trust in COVID-related information from a personal doctor. These findings add to the growing body of literature demonstrating the importance of medical mistrust when examining COVID-19 vaccination disparities. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of considering how social and structural factors such as violence and racism can influence medical mistrust.

Community Policing Information Sharing in Security Enhancement in Gasabo District, Rwanda

In Rwanda, in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, the security situations were critical and the government adopted mechanisms such as community policing as a strategy for security enhancement. However, the country still struggles with insecurity challenges despite the introduction of community policing. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of community policing information sharing on security enhancement in Gasabo District, Rwanda. The study adopted a mixed methodology approach and a concurrent triangulation design. The study targeted approximately 139,358 household heads of Gasabo District, 73 Community Policing Committee (CPC) chairpersons, 15 Community Liaison Officers, and 260 Police Officers. The study sampled 576 household heads for quantitative data whereas the CPC chairpersons, Community Liaison Officers, Police Officers, and Opinion leaders were used for qualitative data. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the participants. Questionnaires, interview guides, and discussion guides were used to collect data. The findings indicated that information sharing had a positive and significant influence on security enhancement. The study concludes that information sharing contributes significantly to security enhancement in Gasabo District, Rwanda. The study recommended the need for RNP to strengthen information sharing for security enhancement. In particular, the institution should focus on enhancing information sharing aspects including information sharing through social media, music, word of mouth, acting, and training.