IMPACT OF COMMUNITY POLICING ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Community Policing and the economic development of Anambra State, Nigeria. In the area of crime
reduction and prevention in Nigeria. The growing rate of insecurity and communal violence in most
parts of the State and the country at large, has arisen serious concerns among citizens and government
authorities. The inability of conventional policing strategies to adequately address criminal activities has
led to the adoption of community policing as an alternative strategy for improving security architecture
within the 21st century and strengthening the relationship between the police and members of the public.
The study aimed at determining the extent to which community policing contributes to crime prevention,
uplift economic growth, most especially measures of different kind to identifying the challenges facing
the implementation of community policing in Nigeria, and enhancing public safety. The works adopted a
descriptive survey research design. The study predominantly, utilized secondary Data and in the final
analysis, Sources including textbooks, journals, newspapers, government publications, internet materials,
and previous academic works of others related to community policing and crime prevention. The findings
indicated that today’s Nigeria is witnessing a higher level of weak leadership and wanton community
effort and cooperation among communities in Nigeria. Findings revealed that community policing plays
an important role to nib and reduce crime to the bearers minimum through intelligence gathering,
information management system approach method, community participation, and building on the
legacy of trust, and a system that is freely working from corruption between the citizens and the police
to improved cooperation among themselves. The study recommended that The government should
provide adequate funding, training and the provision of modern equipments for the Security Agencies,
The welfare of police officers should be improved through better salaries and working conditions, Strong
disciplinary measures should be established to address corruption and abuse of power within the police
force. Public enlightenment campaigns should be organized to educate citizens on the importance of
community policing.