COMMUNITY POLICING, IMPROVED SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA, 2014 – 2023.

Abstract

Crime rate and insecurity in Nigeria general and Anambra state in particular is a serious challenge to the security of lives and properties of the citizens as well as the progressive transformation of the state socially and economically despite the availability of the formal or regular police to take care of the challenges. The work examined community policing, improved security and public safety in Anambra state from 2014 – 2023. The basic objective of the study was to seek for ways of improving the services of community policing for enhanced security and public safety in Anambra state. The study employed both primary and secondary data in effort to get an indepth insight into the phenomenon under investigation. The primary data were generated through responses to a structured questionnaire instrument. Secondary data were generated from books, articles, periodicals and journals. Simple percentages were used in the analysis of data retrieved from primary sources while qualitative method of analysis was employed in the analysis gotten through secondary sources. The study employed George J. Thompson’s Gap theory as its theoretical framework. The study found out that improved salaries to the security outfits personnel, effective training and re-training of the security outfits members, provision of adequate modern security materials and constant monitoring of the activities of the community policing outfits were very necessary in bringing about of improved security and enhancement of public safety in the communities in particular and Anambra state in general. Based on these findings, the study recommended constant training and retraining of the personnel of the community policing outfits will make them to always have an edge over the criminals for enhanced performance in crime management and public safety.