Assessing the Impact of Community Policing Collaborations between the Nigerian Police Force and Local Communities on Crime Reduction in Plateau State, Nigeria

Author's Information:

Leawat, Jesse James

Centre for conflict management and Peace Studies, University of Jos, Plateau State.

Yusuf A. Usman

Institute for Governance and Development Studies, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Vol 02 No 05 (2025):Volume 02 Issue 05 May 2025

Page No.: 292-298

Abstract:

This study assessed the Impact of Community Policing Collaborations between the Nigerian Police Force and Local Communities on Crime Reduction in Plateau State. The work adopted the survey design of the ex post facto type in line with the positivist philosophy of research methods. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires. The selection of respondents was based on purposive sampling, targeting individuals who are directly involved with or affected by community policing activities. Secondary data was sourced from a variety of published materials and credible online resources. These sources included academic books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and relevant materials available on the internet. The secondary data provided a theoretical and contextual background to the study, offering insights into previous research findings, theoretical frameworks of the functionalist perspective as developed by Talcott Parsons in the twentieth century was adopted. The data collected in this study was analyzed using the chi-square statistical tool, employing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26. The result of findings revealed that despite the implementation of community policing initiatives in Plateau State, there is a prevailing public perception that crime continues to occur with considerable frequency. Across all crime types examined—kidnapping, armed robbery, theft, banditry, and other offenses—respondents most frequently reported that these crimes occur “sometimes.” This suggests that although community policing structures have been introduced, their impact on significantly reducing the occurrence of crime is still limited. These findings align with prior studies which argue that without proper integration, adequate resources, and sustained public engagement, community policing may not achieve its intended outcomes. The study concluded that the continued perception of crime occurrence may point to several challenges in the implementation of community policing. These include weak collaboration between the police and local communities, lack of trust, insufficient training for community policing groups, and poor logistical or institutional support from the government. The study recommended that Community partnership should be encouraged. The NPF, State governments and community leaders should improve in building trustworthy connection partnerships, organisational transformation should be improved upon, and a Problem-solving mechanism should be employed through a proactive and methodical analysis of identified problems associated with criminality at each community level.

KeyWords:

Community Policing, Collaboration, Nigerian Police Force, Local Community, Crime Reduction

References:

  1. Albrecht, J. F. (2019). Promoting enhanced public participation and community engagement in policing. Policing and Minority Communities: Contemporary Issues and Global Perspectives, 55-71.
  2. Alemika E.E.O. and Chukwuma I.C.(2000). Analysis of Police and Policing in Nigeria. Center for Law Enforcement Education and National Human Rights Commission, Lagos.
  3. Amusan, L. & Saka, L. (2018). The Nigerian police force and the task of policing democratic Nigeria: Issues and problems. Anthropologist, 31(1-3), 105-116
  4. Arisukwu, O., Igbolekwu, C., Oye, J., Oyeyipo, E., Asamu, F., Rasak, B., & Oyekola, I. (2020). Community participation in crime prevention and control in rural Nigeria. Heliyon, 6 (9), e05015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05015.
  5. Arisukwu, O.C., & Okunola, R.A. (2013). Challenges Faced by Policing Trainees in Nigeria.
  6. Awoyemi, O., Attah, R. U., Basiru, J. O., & Leghemo, I. M. (2025). A community-policing innovation model to build sustainable trust and effectively reduce crime in urban areas. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 6(1), 848-853.
  7. Blair, G., Weinstein, J. M., Christia, F., Arias, E., Badran, E., Blair, R. A., ... & Wilke, A. M. (2021). Community policing does not build citizen trust in police or reduce crime in the Global South. Science, 374(6571), eabd3446.
  8. Cordner, G.W. (1998). Community policing: elements and effects. In: Alpert, G., Piquero, A. (Eds.), Community Policing: Contemporary Readings. Illinois: Waveland Press. Dailytrust, (2023, December 5). As community policing commences. Retrieved 27th 07, 2023from https://www.dailytrust.com
  9. Diarmaid, H. (2018). Community safety partnerships: the limits and possibilities of Policing with the community. Crime Preview and Community Safety, 20, 125–136.
  10. Eguo, N. J. (2023). Community policing and crime prevention in Effutu municipality in the Central region of Ghana. Retrieved from: http://ir.uew.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/4105
  11. Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41(4), 1149–1160.https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149
  12. Headley, A. M., & Kalesnikaite, V. (2025). Exploring the limits of collaboration and the fragility of its outcomes: The case of community policing. Public Administration Review, 85(2), 326-348.
  13. Igbo, E. U. M. (1999). Introduction to Criminology. Nsukka Afro-Orbis Publications Ltd.
  14. Ikuteyijo, L.,& Rotimi, K. (2012) Community partnership in policing: The Nigerian experience. The Police Journal, 85(2), 123-132
  15. Isa, M., Ayuba, I., & Dankishiya, M. S. (2021). Community Policing and National Security in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. Jalingo Journal of Peace Science and Conflict Management Volume 1, Number 1: ISSN 2805-4075 129
  16. Kerlinger, F. (1986). Foundation of behavioural research (3rd ed.) New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
  17. Kpae, G. & Eric, A. (2017). Community policing in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research Vol. 3 No. ISSN: 2545-5303
  18. Lanre, O.I. (2009). Challenges of Community Policing in Nigeria. International Journal of Police Science and Management, 11 (3), 285-293
  19. Modise, J. M. (2023). Community Engagement in Policing: A Path to More Meaningful, Knowledgeable, and Successful Public Consultation. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(6), 3892-3906.
  20. Onuaha, O., Igboke, O., Chioma, A., Onwe, C.,& Egwu,O. (2024). State Policing in Crime prevention and control in Nigeria: An advocacy for its adoption and implementation. African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies, 17(2), 580-595
  21. Plateau State Bereu for Statistics, (2016). Projected population 2016.
  22. Sule, K. A. (2024). Implementing Community Policing in Nigeria. Criminology in Nigeria: History, Evolution, and Trends, 49
  23. Takagi, D., Ikeda, K.I., Kobayashi, T., Harihara, M., Kawachi, I. (2016). The impact of crime on social ties and civic participation. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 26 (2), 164–178.