Frontiers in Management Research

Download PDF (133.9 KB) PP. 1 - 8 Pub. Date: April 30, 2021

DOI: 10.22606/fmr.2021.51001

• Ugwu, A. N.^*
  Department of Adult and Non-Formal Education, Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
• Nwaogu, G. A.
  Department of Educational Management and Business Studies, Faculty of Education, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
• Oyebamiji, M. A.
  Professor of Adult Education & Community Development, Department of Adult and Non-Formal Education, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Community engagement lies at the core of policing. Therefore, through collaborative efforts, community and police members address crime and disorder using approaches determined to be best practices for their communities. Today, community policing involves a new philosophy of police operations and management; hosting an accountability system involving the entire organisation. Nevertheless, to be effective in preventing crime, Nigerian police must place renewed emphasis on community engagement and practices. Based on this premise, this paper examines the best practices for community policing and crime prevention in Nigeria. The paper began with an introduction which x-rayed community policing as evolving to meet the new expectations that emerge in the 21st Century. The paper further looked into the philosophical principles of community policing, crime prevention, community policing best practices for Nigeria, organisational changes for implementing community policing best practices for Nigeria, and the expected benefits of community policing to Nigerians. The paper concluded that while the ways of implementing community policing may differ in practice in accordance with certain conditions in the communities, it is imperative to know that the basic philosophical principles of community policing should always be adhered to, if the best practices for community policing is to be achieved in Nigeria.

best practices, community policing, crime prevention

[1] Agbese, D. (2017). Fulani herdsmen? Here are the grim statistics. Guardian Newspaper, Friday, November 3.

[2] Akinrefon, D. (2021). 4000 farmers in South west killed in 6 years. Saturday Vanguard , February 13.

[3] Akpede, B. (2019). The Nigerian police force and zero accountability on N135 billion VIP police revenue. https://www.dataphyte.com/development/governance-development/the-nigerian-police-force-and-zero...

[4] Bello, I., Magajji, S. & Jamilu, I. M. (2016). An overview of community policing in Nigeria. A paper presented in International conference of Social science and law-Africa. Nigerian Turkish Nile University (NTNU). 11th-12th May, Abuja, Nigeria. researchgate.net

[5] Campbell, J. & Gavin, M. (2020). Nigeria launches community policing initiative. Council on foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org

[6] Cordner, G. (2005). Community policing: elements and effects. In R. G. Dunham & G. P. Alpert (Eds.). Critical issues in policing: contemporary readings, 5th ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland, 401-418.

[7] Our reporters (2021). Over 30 people kidnapped in FCT in one month. Daily Trust, Saturday 13th February. www.dailytrust.com

[8] Darego, T.I. (2020). Community policing strategies for curbing insecurity towards promotion of community development programmes in Rivers and Enugu states. PhD thesis submitted to the department of adult & non-formal education, university of Port Harcourt. Unpublished

[9] Fleming, J. (2007). Experience in implementing community policing in Kosovo. Presentation at OSCE regional police experts meeting on community policing, Skopje, 16-17 October.

[10] Fridell, L. (2004). The defining characteristics of community policing. In L. Fridell & M. A. Wycoff (Eds.). Community policing: the past, present, and future. Washington DC: Casey Foundation.

[11] Gbenemene, K & Adishi, E. (2017). Community policing in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. International Journal of Social Science and Management Research. 3(3) 2545-5303.

[12] Goldenberg, P. G. (2007). Law enforcement officers training programme for combating hate crimes and community policing. Presentation at OSCE Western European regional police experts meeting on community policing, Vienna 11th – 12th June.

[13] Groenewald, H. & Peake, G. (2004). Police reform through community-based policing: Philosophy and guidelines for implementation. New York: International Peace Academy and Safer world.

[14] Hahn, P. H. (1998). Emerging criminal justice: three pillars for a proactive justice system. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

[15] Jonyo, F. & Buchere, P. (2011). The changing nature of security and intelligence in Africa: A Theoretical perspective, challenges and reforms. Nairobi: Azinger Ltd.

[16] Kondi, T. (2007). Community policing concept and characteristics in the Albanian State police. Presentation at OSCE regional police experts meeting on community policing, Skopje, 16-17 October.

[17] Murphy, P. (2000). Management project: Design and presentation. London: Chapman & Hall.

[18] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). Proactive policing: effects on crime and communities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

[19] Nyanya, J. T. (2017). Community policing as a strategy to prevent crime in the Zambezi region. An unpublished Master dissertation, University of South Africa.

[20] Parker, R. (2007). Implementing community policing in practice: lessons learned and challenges. Presentation at OSCE Western European regional police experts meeting on community policing, Vienna 11th - 12th June.

[21] Pettersson, K. (2005). Developing community policing. A food-for-thought-paper at OSCE SPMU, Vienna.

[22] Purdy, D. W. (2007). Community policing. Presentation at OSCE Western European regional police experts meeting on community policing, Vienna 11th – 12th June.

[23] Shiner, M., Thom, B. & MacGregor, S. (2004). Exploring community responses to drugs. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

[24] Stoykov, M. (2007). Community policing. Presentation at OSCE regional police experts meeting on community policing, Skopje, 16th - 17th October.

[25] Trojanowicz, R.C. & Bucqueroux, B. (1994). Community policing: how to get started. Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing.