PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE ON EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY POLICING IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA
PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE ON EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY POLICING IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Summary/Abstract: The study examined the public perception of Nigeria police on effective community policing. This is importance become of the transition from traditional policing to community policing which are a global phenomenon and the Nigeria police cannot be an exception. The study adopts the descriptive analytical model as a working frame using a well-structured questionnaire as a primary mode of data collection. In analyzing the data collected, the study makes use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to make a logical meaning of the causal factors complicit of public perception of Nigeria police on effective community policing. The paper noted that Nigerian police force performs below par, and that this is exemplified by the widespread inefficiencies, corruption, injustice in dealing with suspects, sporadic overuse of legal force, bad temper, bullying, and other impunity-abusing violations of citizens' rights. This misuse of powers which creates negative police image and police-public relations. The paper however concluded that this situation can only be altered if and when the police are committed to treating people with respect and caring for their basic rights and freedoms. The police should put up unrelenting effort to change their reputation as a force that is predatory, harsh, corrupt, and underperforming.

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