Assessing Community Participation in Crime Prevention: The Case of Shwarobit Town Adminstration
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Date
2020
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
The objective of the study is to assess Community participation in crime prevention:
The case of Shewa Robit Town. The study adopted descriptive survey research design
(both quantitative and qualitative research approach). In the study, both primary and
secondary data sources were used. A total of 60 self-representing individuals were
selected from the local community, through stratified random sampling technique, to
be respondents of questionnaires. Moreover, eight (8) community elders and six
(6) police officers were included in the study, using purposive sampling technique, to
be respondents of interview. Questionnaire, interview, FGD and document analysis
was used as the major means of data gathering tools. Both quantitative and
qualitative data analysis method was employed in order to analyze data. The result of
the study indicated that actually most of community did not involved in all crime
prevention activities, such as in decision-making and social security related issues.
The study also found that murder, thefts, robbery illegal human traffic and illegal
weapon trading are most common crime types happening predominantly in the town.
Moreover, as to the findings of the study, the researcher concludes that mistrust,
minimal of technology, lack of adequate number police men, failure of community to
provide and report crime-related information, considering all crime prevention duties
to the police are the major challenges that restrain community participation in crime
prevention success in the study area. Finally, based the major findings of the study, it
is recommended that a special focus needs to be put in place to adopt
community-based crime prevention practices. In doing so, organizing regular training
and continuous capacity building programs should be there for community leaders.
Ministry of police and partners should actively facilitate the process of mobilizing the
community towards peace building and crime prevention and need to use structure of
traditional associations in community policing strategy. Moreover, the study
recommends that there should be integrity, trust, transparency and clear leadership
between the police officers and the local community. All these contribute towards the
success of community participation strategy in prevention of crime.