ABSTRACT
This
research work critically examines combating crime as a public relations
strategy using Oredo Local Government Area as case study in Edo State to access
the characteristics of Edo State Police Command as a reflection of the
political system as well as to determine the impact of the context of violation
of human right on the survival of Nigeria nascent democracy. The methodology
adopted for the collection of data in this research work is both the primary
and secondary source of data collection, for an objective presentation of
research findings. In the cause of this research it is discovered that a lot of
factors were responsible for the problems associated with the police which are
highlighted in the work. In conclusion, recommendations were made after
choosing observation of the problems and it is believed that these
recommendations were holistically taken into consideration for it will go a
long way in re-sharpening the Nigerian Police force and the Edo State Police
Command to be precise.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certification - - - - - - - iii
Dedication - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgements - - - - - - v
Abstract - - - - - - - - vi
Table of Contents - - - - - - vii-viii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Literature
Review
2.1.1 Public Relations and the Police
2.1.2 Organizational Structure of the Police in
Oredo L.G.A.
2.1.3 Police Public Relations in Oredo L.G.A
2.1.4 Police-Community Relations.
2.1.5 Police - Press Relations
2.1.6 Crime Prevention and Control in Nigeria
2.1.7 Effective
and Efficient Policing in Nigeria: Inadequacies, Problems and Obstacles
2.1.8 Community/Societal
Responsibility for Crime Prevention
2.2 Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research
Design
3.2 Population
of the Study
3.3. Sample Size
3.4. Sampling Techniques
3.5 Instrument of Data Collection
3.6 Procedure for Data Collection
3.7 Techniques of Data
Analysis
3.8. Limitations of the
Study
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS.
4.1 Data Presentation.
4.2 Data Analysis According to Research Questions
4.3 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
References
Appendix: Questionnaire
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to
the Study
Our citizens want
protection from criminal assault; they want to be secured in their homes and
elsewhere from molestation. The task of crime prevention has been placed on the
Police whose members have to risk their lives in order to save others. To
prevent crime, the police are posted to areas of the society where crime is
high. Since crime occurs when criminals discover the opportunity to do so, the
police mission in this regard is to prevent crime by their physical presence or
by patrol. The Police responsibility in preventing crime is on a different
scale of discovering criminals. In fact, the latter duty operates only to close
the stable after the horse has bolted’. It is better to prevent crime using
Public Relations strategy than to devote time in discovering criminals. For one
thing if crime is prevented then the police have nothing to investigate
(Okonkwo, 2010).
Crime started with man,
from man and ends up with man. He plans and executes crime, and he ends up
being the victim of his criminal activities. Man, crime and causes of crime,
its control or prevention constitute a subject of great concern for the
generality of the public.
Preventing crime or
eradicating it is the application of deliberate in measures in order to counter
the incidents of crime and preventing them from escalating. Crime prevention
involves deliberate and progressive set of public relations activities designed
and employed in the suppression and eventual eradication of crime and
criminality within any community, town or state. Criminals especially youths in
Oredo Local Government Area are going out in their hundred in a new turn of
high tech crime, robbing, killing and burning houses after taking their loot.
The frequency with which the crimes are committed in Oredo Local Government
Area is as thought provoking as the ineffectiveness of the police public
relations in combating them. The Nigeria police force, like other forces around
the world is an organization responsible for maintenance of law and order and
above all, crime prevention and protection of life and property of the people.
It is charged with the roles of ensuring equality, justice and respect for
human right and constituted authority. In fact, the police is a veritable
instrument against social vices like bribery and corruption, injustice,
victimization, oppression, suppression, violence, disorder, including man’s
inhumanity to man (Tamuno, 2010).
By virtue of all these
overwhelming powers and responsibilities accorded to the police and its daily
interaction and accessibility to the people, every member of this country
expects much from it, for the accomplishment of its various roles and
responsibilities. However, it must be admitted that the Nigeria police force
has tried its best in the realization of its set objectives especially when
viewed from the backdrop of the socio-political and economic malice which it is
operating. Yet, the performance of these functions has been noted with mixed
feelings, feeling of condemnation and appreciation by the general public
(Sullivan, 2010).
The Nigeria Police Force as it is known is the major organ
that is saddled with responsibility of crime prevention and control in the
country, but the burgeoning crime and the sophistication with which it is
executed makes the functions of the Nigeria Police Force very cumbersome and
arduous. This situation is aggravating considering the low morale of members of
the police force and the numerous external and internal problems confronting
the agency which include manpower shortages, lack of essential police equipment and
quality of police personnel.
According to Igbinovia (2012) the external factors are those about which
the police as an organization have little influence; for example, the overall
budgetary allocations which are made in competition with other government
organs, by politicians and bureaucrats. Such things as manpower shortages, lack
of equipment, funds, etc. are problems that come to the police and limit their
capacity to perform the task of crime prevention and control effectively. Yet
other problems are much more amenable to police control. For example, police
behavior and conduct during their work, the content and extent of the training
they receive, the control superiors exercise over patrol men, and the degree of
corruption within the agency, all constitute internal factors. Many of the
internal factors are actually exacerbated or do bring about the external
factors.
The crime problem in Nigeria has assumed a serious dimension despite the
fact that official statistics down play the problem to a minimal level. This
situation may explain why affluent people have resorted to hiring private
security system which was hitherto foreign to the country to protect them,
their family and property. Additionally, as a result of the crime situation the
confidence people used to have in the police especially in the prevention and
control of crime has waned considerably. No governmental agency in Nigeria
except the defunct National Electric Power Authority has been so severely
criticized as the Nigeria Police for not living to its responsibilities and
expectations. Police criticisms in Nigeria generally center on the quality of
the police personnel, their ineffectiveness and inefficiency in carrying out
their tasks especially in preventing and controlling crime, manpower shortages,
poor police attitudes and response to citizens, lack of essential police
equipment and facilities and constant conflict and tension between the police
and the citizenry. Another area which has also resulted in efficiency in the
police ability to effectively carry out its primary assign duties of crime
prevention and control and which has further alienated the agency from the
citizenry is the amount of corruption that exist in the agency (Igbinovia,
2012).
A former Inspector General
of Police, Alhaji Aliyu Atta, identified in his address to the Retired
Inspector General forum in Abuja, some ‘Woes and grievances
responsible...declining performance of the police force”. He attributed the
poor performance of the force in crime control to;
the neglect by the government as well as
failure of the public to appreciate the value of the work performed by the
officers and men of the force (Igbinovia, 2012).
Obviously, the police as a
governmental agency, is meant to serve the public in crime control and
prevention. To do this, there should be mutual dependence and co-operation
between the police and the public in which it operates. Therefore, the Nigeria
police force cannot operate effectively without the understanding, rapport and
support of the members of the public but the cat and dog relationship between
the members of the police force and the public on one hand and the increasing
crime wave on the other hand has cast some doubt and suspicion on the existence
and a need for combating crime using public relations strategy.
In line with this
observation, Alhaji Aliyu Atta (Igbinovia, 2012) also noted that;
The police act in ways that they do not
need the co-operation from the public. To earn the support of the public, the
police must behave in a civil manner and abandon the habit of treating everyone
they have business with as criminals.
Most often informants are
victimized and exposed by the police. This attitude is counter productive as it
is capable of discouraging some other willing informants. The assistance of the
public and sincerity of the police are quite vital. On the other hand, it is
also the responsibility of the public to help the police in preventing crime as
the criminals live with the members of the society, the family units, churches,
mosques, schools and clubs who are all culprits in crime. According to Frank
Odita a Commissioner of Police, “crime is the creation of the society because
criminals are being models and opinion leaders” (Igbinovia, 2012). Referring to
police, Reuben Abati in his article in the Guardian (Friday, 25, September,
1992), maintained that the police has;
abandoned its traditional profile as a friend of the
society and has recast itself and has been accepted as an enemy of the people.
We present no other evidence of this than the killing on September 6 of Col.
Ezra Rimdan of the Nigeria Army.
It is needless to mention
that so many crimes have been nipped in the bud as a result of police public
co-operation through mutual exchange of information and communication. It was
in realization of these problems and circumstances that this project under took
to investigate the need for effectively “Combating crime using Public Relation
Strategy with special reference to Oredo Local Government Area”. It examined
the various factors responsible for the inherent poor relationship in order to
proffer possible and workable solutions to them so as to achieve effective
crime control and eradication in the locality. However, a brief history and
organizational structure of the Nigeria Police force will be carried out by the
study, this will stand in good stead in assessing and understanding the present
and predicting future performance of the Nigeria police in terms of crime
combat. Ultimately, a critical evaluation of the activities and roles of police
- community relations committee as well as press relations will also be studied
within the competence of this research work.
1. 2 Statement of the Problem
The police seem to neglect
public opinion and attitude in the face of the increasing crime wave in the
country. The public on the other hand, is virtually indifferent in assisting
the police in combating crime. According to Okonkwo (Friday, 25, September,
2010:5);
The public attitude has been that it is
suicidal to strike a friendship with the policeman for he would ultimately fall
short of trust and expectation. This indictment defeats the essence and
ambition of the police force as an organ of civil society.
Therefore, the main
problem which the research work will seek to investigate is the effectiveness
of combating crime in the country using public relations strategy. Other
problems that have been identified are;
i.
Absence of two-way flow of information between the police and
the general public.
ii.
Report of bribery and corruption on the part of the police.
iii.
Ineffective police-community relations committee.
iv.
Rampant cases of police brutality, intimidation and
victimization against members of the police in receiving public co-operation
towards crime/combat and inadequacy of operational logistics for the police.
Professor T.
N. Tamuno in his book. The Police in Modern Nigeria (1961- 1965) observes that;
The incidents which lead to friction, (between the
police and the public) are usually given much publicity; the instances of
friendly relations are often ignored.
Tamuno on the part of the
public identified;
The unco-operative
attitudes towards the police, incivility against members of the public and
unappreciative nature of police’s peculiar activities and problems by the
members of the public (pg:22).
All these allegations and
counter-allegations between the police and the public have in no small measure
compounded these problems as experienced in Oredo Local Government Area.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objectives for
this study are as follows;
i.
To examine the extent to which co-operation and assistance
between the police and the public can influence crime reduction.
ii.
To examine the role the police-community relations committee
play in combating crime.
iii.
To assess and ascertain the extent to which the image of the
police affects its relationship with the public in crime combat.
1.4 Research Questions
The investigation is
saddled with the responsibilities for finding answers to the following
questions:
i.
To what extent can co-operation and assistance between the
police and the public influence crime reduction?
ii.
What role can the police-community relations committee play
in combating crime?
iii.
To what extent does the image of the police affect its
relationship with the public in crime combat?
1.5 Significance of
the Study
The main significance of
the study among other things are;
i.
To eradicate or reduce crime in the country by bringing into
limelight the cooperation of the Nigeria police force and the public;
ii.
To better the image of the police; and
iii.
Strengthen the mutual relationship with the community.
iv.
The study at completion will serve a guide to
study at completion will serve a guide to students that intend to carry out
similar research in the nearest future.
v.
Finally, the study is expected to provide policy
recommendation to the police, government official such as the inspector general
of police, parent and guardians on how to tackle the problem of crime among
individuals most especially the youth; one main cause for violence is the way
families function. Children learn response styles mainly though watching and
interacting with the people who care for them frequently. Youth can learn to
lead non-violence lives if they grow and develop in positive, caring,
supportive inconsistent care giver behaviour and example of anti-social
actions.
vi.
It is expected that appropriate answers to the research
questions below will help in making valid conclusions and recommendations for
the combat of crime through police public relations.
1.6 Scope of the
Study
This project is an
intensive and in-depth case study based on Oredo Local Government Area. The
investigation will limit itself only to the effectiveness of good relationship
between the police and the public and how this relationship can foster crime
control in Nigeria.
As already stated, a brief
history and structure of the police was done, while the activities and function
of the police-community relations committee in Oredo Local Government Area was
also studied.
1.7 Definition of
Terms
For easy
understanding of the research work, it becomes imperative that some operational
terms should be properly defined.
The Police: According to Pulling (2007:12) the police is a public
institution charged with the responsibilities of protecting and safeguarding
the life and properties of citizens within the internal territorial boundaries
of a nation.
Crime Prevention: According to Black (2003:37) these are pre-emptive
action talking against the perpetration of an act of omission.
Human Rights Abuse: According to Abati (2002:568) human
rights abuse is simply the violation or denial of that unique virtue that
defines and promotes the dignity of within a given socio-political environment.
This could be in form of judicial killing, brutality, genocide discrimination,
arbitrary arrest, denial of access to judicial remedy etc.
Public Relations: Public Relations: The Public Relations
Society of America (PRSA) says “public relations is concerned with or devoted
to creating mutual understanding among groups and institutions.” The PRSA recognizes
the place of groups and institution s in the public relations process. It
admits that these entities have interests that must be protected. It also
presupposes a streamlining of these benefits for mutual good. The concept of
mutuality in this definition makes you as a public relations man or woman an
intermediary between your institution and its publics. This implies that you
should be able to align the interests of these two parties for their mutual
advantage. You do this by convincing your institution that public relations
attempts to put the broad interest of the public first before the special
interest of the organization. By doing this, the institution is indirectly
serving its own interest; hence PR has what is called “enlightened self interest”.
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