Community Policing Research Articles

‘It has gotten a lot better, but it is still bad’: Experiences with the police among marginalized PWUDs in a context of depenalization

Based on a survey (n = 249) and qualitative interviews (n = 38) with marginalized people who use drugs (PWUDs) in Copenhagen, Denmark, we investigate the experiences of this group with the police in a context where drug possession had been depenalized in and around drug consumption rooms (DCRs). Our findings point to positive experiences with the police, especially with the local community police in the depenalization zone, who refrained from drug law enforcement and practiced 'harm reduction policing.' However, marginalized PWUDs also reported that they were still targeted for drug possession by other sections of the police despite the depenalization policy. Specifically, the drug squad of the police would continue to confiscate illicit drugs for investigatory purposes to counter organized drug crime, as well as continue to target user-dealers who were not formally included in the depenalization policy. The findings illustrate how marginalized PWUDs still found themselves in a precarious legal situation without any legal rights to possess the drugs that they were dependent on, even though possession of drugs had been depenalized in and around DCRs.

The Role of Community Policing in Crime Reduction: Comparative Analysis of South Africa and Kenya

Community policing, characterized by its emphasis on law enforcement-community partnerships, problem-solving strategies, and decentralized organizational structures, represents a multifaceted approach aimed at improving community well-being and reducing crime rates. This paper examines the implementation and effectiveness of community policing in different socio-political contexts, with a focus on South Africa and Kenya. Despite being a global phenomenon, community policing manifests differently across countries, necessitating a nuanced analysis of its application and outcomes. South Africa and Kenya provide intriguing case studies, showcasing both successes and challenges in community policing initiatives. While community-oriented strategies have shown promise in fostering trust between law enforcement agencies and communities, addressing socio-economic disparities, and enhancing citizen participation in crime prevention, concerns persist regarding its efficacy in contexts of poor governance and resource constraints. By evaluating crime rates, citizen perceptions of safety, and community satisfaction, this paper highlights the importance of ongoing research and tailored interventions to optimize the impact of community policing. Ultimately, community policing emerges as a transformative approach with the potential to foster safer, more resilient communities when implemented through collaborative, adaptive, and contextually sensitive strategies. Keywords: Community policing, crime reduction, South Africa, Kenya, law enforcement-community partnerships, problem-solving approach, citizen participation, socio-political context, governance, comparative analysis

The Nexus of Climate Change and Policing: Guidelines to Improve Climate Change Governance

Abstract: Climate change has far-reaching ramifications for society, and its consequences cross conventional boundaries and affect many facets of life. While climate change's environmental, economic, social, and health consequences have received considerable attention, an important but frequently overlooked aspect of dealing with this crisis is its intersection with public safety and security and how law enforcement must be prepared to deal with climate breakdown. Climate change impacts and other natural catastrophes create complicated problems for governments in implementing appropriate police governance, notably regarding disaster risk reduction and management. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, catastrophic weather events, and sea-level rise are just a few of the global crisis manifestations causing havoc in these areas. Climate change has repercussions across society, affecting millions and jeopardizing their livelihoods. Drought, desertification, land degradation, water shortages, and food insecurity are some of the effects that are becoming increasingly prevalent with the rise in global temperatures. Climate change is viewed as a risk multiplier because it exacerbates many criminal and illicit activities. For example, human trafficking has several links to climate change. Furthermore, the disruption of migration patterns due to climate change is a particular concern, introducing an additional layer of complexity for law enforcement. The urgent necessity for comprehensive and context-specific solutions to improve law enforcement institutions' resilience and adaptive capabilities, particularly in developing courtiers, is emphasized. Law enforcement measures must be enhanced, as well as the formulation of community policing strategies and the promotion of inter and intra-service collaboration. This is not a hypothetical issue; it is a live reality that demands immediate attention, novel solutions, and cross-sector collaboration.

Attitudes Toward the Police in Prolonged Emergencies: Findings from the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel

AbstractEmergencies, such as natural disasters, wars and terrorist attacks, are known to have important effects on police–community relations and, specifically, on public attitudes toward the police. At the same time, little is known about what happens to public sentiments over time in prolonged emergencies. Similarly, it is unclear if different types of attitudes follow a similar trajectory or if they “behave” differently. The present study examines general and pandemic-specific attitudes toward the police over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, using data from a community panel survey (n = 535) carried out in its first three peaks. We found a statistically significant deterioration in all types of attitudes in the first six months of the study, followed by stabilization in general attitudes. Interestingly, some emergency-specific attitudes followed a different path and demonstrated consistent deterioration throughout the study period. These findings contribute to our theoretical understanding of police–community relations in emergencies and bear practical implications for policing emergencies.

Occupational identity and police officers’ social relations in Ibadan City, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Despite the abundance of studies on the public perception of the Nigeria Police Force and the policing operations of officials of the law enforcement agency, there is a paucity of empirical research on the life and lived experiences of police officers as it concerns their occupational identity. Thus, this study investigated the impact of occupational identity on the social relations of police officers in Ibadan City, Nigeria. Symbolic interactionism theory guided the research, while data were elicited from serving and retired police officers through the combination of in-depth interview, key informant interview and focus group discussion methods. All the respondents affirmed that their work-related experiences in Nigeria over the years have consistently shown that most members of the society typically attached negativity to the police occupation. Nevertheless, there was a consensus amongst them that their involvement in police occupation conferred on them certain benefits in society. Respondents recognised the negative impact of their occupational identity on their social relations and were adopting different measures to mitigate it. There is a need for the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to design a functional roadmap through which the existing police-public gap can be systematically bridged by periodically organising public outreach and social programmes that will be strategically tailored towards systematically bringing together police officials and members of the public in a relaxed non-professional setting.

Democratization of community policing: Insights and perspectives on the Nigerian Experience

In this work, the methods of democratization of community policing in Nigeria were addressed. The traditional methods of policing which focused on militaristic style of policing and the current focus of policing which hinges on police-public collaborations in policing make this study significant. The broad objective of this study is to identify the roles of various stakeholders in the democratization of community policing in Nigeria and the challenges. The specific objectives were to identify the roles of: the police, the public, and the challenges facing democratization of community policing in Nigeria. The work raised three research questions to address the objectives of the study. We adopted both primary and secondary sources of data collection. The result of this survey indicated that the police organize various workshops for police officers to enable them adapt to new policing style and accommodate views from all ranks including lower ranking officers; that the public participate in policing by promoting security outfits, monitoring immigrants, providing useful information to the police and arresting criminals and handing them over to the police; that this new policing programme suffers some institutional setbacks: selective implementation; inadequate personnel and poor budgetary allocations. Based on our findings, we recommend that Nigeria police service should be transformed to Nigeria community policing service; the numerical strength of the police should be raised in order to meet the international standard of one police officer to forty people, and that the budgetary provision for the police should be enhanced.

Community policing and urban safety: reinventing security in city centers

Research objective: The purpose of the study is to delve into community policing and the revolutionary changes it has brought about in terms of city centre security and safety. This research looks at how partnerships and problem-solving tactics help decrease crime and disruption in public spaces by analysing how this philosophy is integrated into police agencies.
 Methodology: This research synthesises results from current community policing approaches by drawing on a comprehensive literature review and case studies. It lays forth the efficacy of these tactics in varied urban contexts using theoretical and empirical data.
 Main conclusions: The research uncovers significant insights into how community policing fosters a collaborative relationship between law enforcement and community members, leading to improved safety and a reduction in crime. The study identifies key factors such as trust-building, proactive problem-solving, and community engagement as vital elements of successful community policing.
 Application of the study: The implications of this study are far-reaching for policy-makers, urban planners, and law enforcement agencies seeking to reinvent the approach to security in city centers. The results provide a structure for applying community policing tactics that can be adjusted to various urban environments, highlighting the significance of community engagement in establishing secure public areas.
 Originality/Novelty of the Study: This research contributes to the discourse on urban safety by providing a nuanced understanding of community policing as a method for reinventing security in city centers. It presents novel insights into the interdisciplinary nature of community policing, which intersects with urban development, social policy, and public administration. The study suggests a paradigm shift from traditional law enforcement to a more integrated, community-focused approach, potentially guiding future urban safety initiatives.

The challenges of community policing in maintaining community security: the case of Harar City, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The adoption of community policing was expected to bring a paradigm shift in preventing crime and disorder. However, regardless of the practice of community policing as a strategy to maintain public security, the programme faces several challenges that hinder its proper implementation. The purpose of this article is to examine the challenges of community policing implementation in Harar City, Ethiopia. This article employed a qualitative research approach with a grounded theory design. The article used both primary and secondary data sources and the study participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using key informant interviewees, focus group discussions, non-participant observation, and document analysis. The thematic analysis method was applied during the data analysis process. The study revealed that conceptual and practical, institutional, infrastructural challenges and political constraints derived from the community, the police organisation, and the government agencies limit the successful practices of community policing for maintaining public security in the study area. It is, therefore, recommended that the community, police organisation, government agencies, and other stakeholders have to coordinate and collaborate to alleviate or at least minimise the challenges of community-based policing in Harar City.

Making community policing work: A panacea to crimes and rural conflicts in Nigeria

Abstract In Nigeria, several community development initiatives abound either through the government or donor agencies. Despite all these efforts, little concern has been placed on the security of rural dwellers. This has enabled incessant conflicts in rural communities, leading to the loss of lives and an overall negative effect on food production. This chapter employed different conflict and mediation theories to explain the causes, drivers, and ways to resolve the conflicts. Materials were sourced from top-tier databases, including reports and publications from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, and other reliable sources. It found that conflicts in rural communities have resulted in the destruction of lives and livelihood assets, a reduction in crop yield and income, an increase in fear and ethno-religious stereotypes, food shortages and rape. It identified a partial implementation of community policing strategy but noted the centralization of power to the Nigerian Police Force as an impediment to its effectiveness. Worthy approaches to ensuring the effectiveness of community policing strategy as a panacea to crimes and rural conflicts are: constitutional redress; developing programs and needed resources; training and re-training of officers and partners; planning an effective strategy using civilian volunteers; aligning performance measures of officers and partners; demonstrating leadership and taking risks; and making changes to the organization of departments under the community policing structure. However, it recommends operational community policing that incorporates all actors in the states and local governments with reliable legal frameworks for securing the farm and rural farming communities in Nigeria.

Security Challenges and Economic Development in Emerging Economics: The Nigeria Experience

The study focused on security challenges and economic development in emerging economic in Nigeria and solutions. The continuous rise in insecurity and deterioration in the economic development in Nigeria call for a concern among researchers and policy makers over the years. Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented security challenge occasioned by the activities of militants in the South-South region, kidnappers in the south east, violent armed robbery in almost parts of the country, political assassination, ritual killings and more recently activities of Boko Haram in some parts of the northern region especially north east. These social menaces, when put together impinge on the security of lives and property of both Nigerian citizens and foreigners living or even trying to invest in the country. To ensure economic development in Nigeria therefore, the study recommends various measures of curbing security challenges including preventive community policing, human capital development, equitable distribution of resources as well as channeling of resources to frontline sectors of the economy among others. This paper recommend that Federal government should engage peace and conflict resolution experts in dealing with issues concerning Fulani herdsmen and Farmers crises and that ranching method of cattle rearing location across the country while the herdsmen should be given needed training for effective and efficient management of the ranching. Also, effective leadership and good governance as a panacea to solving problems of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, hunger, disease, among other negative indices.

Dimensions of Urban Poverty in Slum Neighbourhoods of Yenagoa City, Bayelsa State

Urban poverty and slum development have become a reoccurring social phenomenon in urban societies of developing economies. The study aims to assess urban poverty in slum neighbourhoods of Yenagoa City, Bayelsa State. The objectives include identifying the characteristics of slum dwellers in the study area; ascertaining the dimension of urban poverty in the study area; assessing the impact of urban poverty in slum neighbourhoods and identifying measures aimed at reducing urban poverty in the study area. The study adopted a mixed-methods research approach. A total of 397 sample sizes were arrived at using the Taro Yamane formula at a 5% precision level. Only 380 questionnaires were retrieved, collated, and analysed using univariate statistics. The study found that urban poverty is high in the study leading to an increase in crime, insecurity, and poor tenure security affecting residents’ environmental conditions. The study recommends that the Bayelsa State Government and local governments should collaborate with international donor agencies and NGOs to provide appropriate skills acquisition and training programmes, and institute schemes to develop the skills of residents to be self-reliant, provide basic infrastructure, facilities, and services in all the neighbourhoods to improve the quality of life and encourage residents to diversify into other sources of income. The government should collaborate with security agencies and communities to establish community policing to improve security architecture and crime prevention strategies in the study area.

COMMUNITY POLICING AND REPRESENTATION WITHIN POLICING IN CANADA

On November 14, 2023, Jacqueline Edwards presented Community Policing and Representation within Policing in Canada for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The key points discussed were diversity in policing and the importance of accountability and community engagement in policing.
 
 Received: 12-18-2023
 Revised: 01-26-2024

A japán kōban közösségi rendészeti modell

Aim: The author aims to provide information on the Japanese kōban model for those interested in community policing. At the same time, he highlights the social and political conditions in Japan that have been necessary for the success of the kōban policing model.Methodology: The author conducted an empirical data collection based on interviews and participant observation in Japan in 2022. The data collection was supported by a professor, formerly a police officer, who was active in police educationand research during the fieldwork period. This support was crucial in enabling the author to contact police leaders, community police officers, criminologists and other professionals. In addition, relevant literature and legal background on the subject were analysed.Conclusions: In addition to the commitment of the government, collectivism and norm-following, which are characteristic of Japanese society, contributed to the success of community policing. In addition, it was necessary to build a crime prevention network based on the involvement and activation of the public, and on cooperation between the police and local voluntary organisations.Value: The results make it clear that the introduction or adoption of elements of a community policing model must take into account the specificities of the society concerned. The article also draws attention to the role and potential of comparative criminology.

The Japanese koban community policing system

Aim: The author aims to provide information on the Japanese kōban model for those interested in community policing. At the same time, he highlights the social and political conditions in Japan that have been necessary for the success of the kōban policing model.Methodology: The author conducted an empirical data collection based on interviews and participant observation in Japan in 2022. The data collection was supported by a professor, formerly a police officer, who was active in police educationand research during the fieldwork period. This support was crucial in enabling the author to contact police leaders, community police officers, criminologists and other professionals. In addition, relevant literature and legal background on the subject were analysed.Conclusions: In addition to the commitment of the government, collectivism and norm-following, which are characteristic of Japanese society, contributed to the success of community policing. In addition, it was necessary to build a crime prevention network based on the involvement and activation of the public, and on cooperation between the police and local voluntary organisations.Value: The results make it clear that the introduction or adoption of elements of a community policing model must take into account the specificities of the society concerned. The article also draws attention to the role and potential of comparative criminology.

Counterinsurgency Operations in the Second District of Sorsogon: Basis for Sustainable Development

Throughout history, insurgency has been a persistent phenomenon, its origins stemming from various factors such as political, economic, social, and ethnic grievances that drive certain factions or individuals to take up arms in resistance. This study determined the status of COIN operations in terms of Legal basis, Manpower, Financial resources, Logistical resources, and Accomplishments from 2021 to 2023. Likewise, this evaluates the COIN operations of the unit along with the conduct of Internal Security operations, Intelligence operations, and Police Community Affairs and development to determine challenges that were encountered by the personnel. The respondents of the study are the PNP personnel, barangay officials, and former rebels. The counterinsurgency framework presents a comprehensive and strategic approach to addressing insurgency threats, with the potential to significantly enhance the conduct of counterinsurgency operations. The findings underscore both the acknowledged strengths and identified areas for enhancement within police operations, as reported by respondents from the PNP. This shows a widespread acknowledgment of the pivotal role of the ISO in upholding internal security and addressing insurgent challenges. It signifies a mutual understanding among diverse stakeholders, encompassing barangay officials, former rebels, and law enforcement personnel, regarding the necessity of proactive strategies to prevent, interrupt, and counter-insurgency operations within impacted localities. Overall, the proposed framework offers a promising strategy for countering insurgency threats and advancing the goals of peace, stability, and security in affected regions.

The role of national police bodies v preventions and countermeasures for household violence

The article examines whether the National Police, as a public authority, implements special measures to prevent and counter domestic violence, using, if necessary, measures of administrative coercion against offenders. The National Police bodies are directly charged with the duty of detecting facts of domestic violence, with subsequent response to them. An important aspect of improving the performance of the National Police is to establish trust with the affected families, who are afraid to come forward about the facts of domestic violence due to fear of condemnation from society. The authorities of the National Police also carry out preventive activities, together with the public, to provide the society with relevant information on the prevention and counteraction of domestic violence.
 The problem of domestic violence is not new, it has existed since the beginning of humanity, since the beginning of communities and concepts of family customs. But the fact that today some countries have learned to adequately deal with this problem, and some are simply silent about it, does not mean that the problem does not exist at all. The adoption of the new Law of Ukraine “On Prevention and Combating Domestic Violence” in 2018 is a significant change for the better, but for it to work fully, a lot of effort from the entire population of the country must be made. The legal basis of the National Police’s activity in this area is the normative legal acts in the field of prevention and counteraction of domestic violence - officially formalized results of the subject’s will in the field of prevention and counteraction of domestic violence, carried out unilaterally and entailing legal consequences.
 The following are the authorized divisions of the National Police bodies for the prevention and counteraction of domestic violence:
 
 precinct police officers and community police officers;
 juvenile prevention police officers;
 patrol police units and patrol police response groups;
 investigation and inquiry units;
 domestic violence counteraction sectors and mobile response groups to incidents of domestic violence.

Receptive-Productive Dynamics of US Evangelicals in Response to G. W. Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiatives’ Funding Programs

Faith-based organizations in the United States remain the primary shelter either for the indigent individuals seeking social help or for the government striving to reinforce its domestic policies. The aim of the present article is to investigate and assess the interrelation between religion and US politics via Evangelical faith-based organizations and government funding under G. W. Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative policy. The question remains whether being an Evangelical organization prohibits from receiving government funds. The study examines three Evangelical organizations: Union Rescue Mission, East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership, and the Salvation Army in their response for Faith-Based Organization’s programs naming: Compassion Capital Funds, Ready4Work, and Continuum of Care. The article argues that the three organizations received government funds during Bush’s two presidential terms. Union Rescue Mission and East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership acted positively for Ready4Work program while the Salvation Army used Compassion Capital Funds and Continuum of Care funds in serving the needs of US citizens.

Mechanisms for Ensuring Transparency and Accountability of Police Operations: A Comparative Study

The article aims to conduct a comparative analysis of approaches to the definition and implementation of mechanisms for ensuring transparency and accountability in police operations and to identify best practices. The research used the comparative analysis method, the formal-legal method, and the content analysis method. It was established that principal mechanisms of ensuring transparency in police operations involve providing open access to information through digital channels available to the public; ensuring public participation and control over police activities; implementing interaction with mass media. The principal approach to ensuring the accountability of police operations is the evaluation of police activity. The work proved that enhancing transparency and accountability can be achieved through various mechanisms, including implementing a top-notch electronic platform for citizens, as demonstrated by the UK police website. Adopting the concept of community policing is another effective strategy to promote these principles, as well as utilising social networks for interaction with citizens and carrying out qualitative and quantitative evaluations of police work, such as police effectiveness, efficiency, and legitimacy assessments. The findings of this study have the potential to provide valuable insights for law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and other countries by facilitating the integration of successful practices into their policing operations etc.

Distress about social problems and tobacco and cannabis use outcomes among young adults in Los Angeles County

ObjectiveTo examine associations of concern, worry, and stress about discrimination, shootings/violence, and police brutality and exclusive and dual tobacco and cannabis use among young adults. MethodsA prospective, racially/ethnically diverse cohort of young adults (n = 1960) living in Los Angeles, California completed a baseline survey in 2020 (age range: 19–23) and a follow-up survey in 2021. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed on nine variables assessing levels of concern, worry, and stress about societal discrimination, societal shootings/violence, and community police brutality at baseline. Past 30-day tobacco and cannabis use at follow-up was categorized as current exclusive tobacco, exclusive cannabis, and dual tobacco and cannabis (vs never/former) use based on eleven use variables. Multinomial logistic regressions estimated adjusted associations between each factor score (translated to standard deviation units) with exclusive and dual tobacco and cannabis use. ResultsThe EFA produced four factor scores representing concern/worry/stress (i.e., distress) about community police brutality (F1), distress about societal shootings/violence (F2), and distress about societal discrimination (F3), as well as generalized stress about police brutality, shootings/violence, and discrimination (F4). F1, F2, and F3 were associated with subsequent exclusive current cannabis use, with F1 having the strongest association (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.18–1.55), while only F1 (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.27–1.78) was associated with dual tobacco and cannabis use. None of the factors were associated with exclusive tobacco use. ConclusionsYoung adult concern, worry, and/or stress about social problems may increase risk of cannabis use with or without concurrent tobacco use 6–12 months later.

Permissive Space and Policing Practices in Mathare and Kaptembwo, Kenya

ABSTRACT In this article, I analyse how different policing actors project their power and sovereignty in two informal settlements in Kenya: Mathare and Kaptembwo. Using the idea of permissive space, I unpack how power, relationships, and sovereignty issues are negotiated through everyday policing practices and repetitive public performances. I interrogate how the police, community policing bodies, boda boda (motorcycle taxi) riders, men and women, and young people interacted in different spaces of impunity as they exercised sovereignty. I show how they draw on historical claims to power negotiated over time that entitled them with authority over particular issues, such as carrying out street violence on suspected criminals. As a result, I establish how legitimacy and sovereignty are negotiated, contested, constructed, and reconstructed. We can only understand these dynamics if one looks at how actors negotiate their relationships with the state and each other.