IMPACT OF COMMUNITY POLICING ON CRIME REDUCTION IN KADUNA CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study carefully examines the Effectiveness of Community Policing in Crime Reduction to the Community in Kaduna central senatorial district. Specifically the study intended to identify the community policing strategies used by the Police force to reduce crime, assessing the Impact of Community Policing in reducing Crime, identifying challenges facing Police Force in administering the Community Policing and evaluating the effectiveness of community policing on crime reduction. A case study research design was employed in which Kaduna south and Igabi Local governments were taken as a case study. The study used interview and questionnaires as data collecting tools. The study found that the main strategies used by police force to reduce crime includes; foot patrol, collaboration and community meetings, and public education programs etc. The show that, Community policing has little or no impact on reducing crimes as employed strategies have no effects in addressing the crime. Lack of training,poor implementation strategies, information gap and lack of involvement leads to unrealistic community expectations and present a challenge to the police force and the communities at large. In conclusion, the study recommends among others that community engagement should be the central focal point. Communities must participate in planning and choosing approaches as well as becoming equal owners of the process. Both the Police Force and communities need to have clearly defined roles and be given the skills and resources to carry it out. KEYWORDS: Community policing, Crime reduction.